Mary Ramerman
Priestess in the Old Catholic Church
The ordination of women to the priesthood is not a "novelty", but a development which is in perfect continuity with the living tradition that comes to us from Christ and the apostles (Galatians 3:26-28). It is consistent with the "signs of the times", and confirmed by the "sense of the faithful".
Currently, the following churches offer women an open path toward the ordained priesthood:
+ Numerous "Independent Catholic Churches"
+ Many "Old Catholic Churches"
+ Many jurisdictions of the "Lutheran Federation"
+ Several provinces of the "Anglican Communion"
Mary Magdalene the Apostle Catholic Website
(MY apologies for not including a "barf" alert!)
The author's knowledge of Scripture is depressing. The scripture dealing with marraige and church leadership is found in 1 Tim 3, (repeated in Titus) where an elder (church leader) is required to be the husband of one wife. But, since scripture doesn't matter, let them continue in their error.
As we have promised above to make some mention of Paphnutius and Spyridon, it is time to speak of them here. Paphnutius then was bishop of one of the cities in Upper Thebes: he was a man so favored divinely that extraordinary miracles were done by him. In the time of the persecution he had been deprived of one of his eyes. The emperor honored this man exceedingly, and often sent for him to the place, and kissed the part where the eye had been torn out. So great devoutness characterized the emperor Constantine. Let this single fact respecting Paphnutius suffice: I shall now explain another thing which came to pass in consequence of his advice, both for the good of the Church and the honor of the clergy. It seemed fit to the bishops to introduce a new law into the Church, that those who were in holy orders, I speak of bishops, presbyters, and deacons, should have no conjugal intercourse with the wives whom they had married while still hymen. Now when discussion on this matter was impending, Paphnutius having arisen in the midst of the assembly of bishops, earnestly entreated them not to impose so heavy a yoke on the ministers of religion: asserting that `marriage itself is honorable, and the bed undefiled'; urging before God that they ought not to injure the Church by too stringent restrictions. `For all men,' said he, `cannot bear the practice of rigid continence; neither perhaps would the chastity of the wife of each be preserved': and he termed the intercourse of a man with his lawful wife chastity. It would be sufficient, he thought, that such as had previously entered on their sacred calling should abjure matrimony, according to the ancient tradition of the Church: but that none should be separated from her to whom, while yet unordained, he had been united. And these sentiments he expressed, although himself without experience of marriage, and, to speak plainly, without ever having known a woman: for from a boy he had been brought up in a monastery, and was specially renowned above all men for his chastity. The whole assembly of the clergy assented to the reasoning of Paphnutius: wherefore they silenced all further debate on this point, leaving it to the discretion of those who were husbands to exercise abstinence if they so wished in reference to their wives. Thus much concerning Paphnutius. (Socrates Scholasticus, Ecclesiastical History, I, XI)
But why leave out verse 26?
1 Corinthians 7:26 I suppose therefore that this is good for the present distress, I say, that it is good for a man so to be.
It seems obvious that there was some reason at that time that Paul would recommend celibacy. Celibacy is always an option but not a necessity.