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What old-guard feminists get wrong about Catholics
Dallas News ^ | April 27, 2008 | Kathryn Jean Lopez

Posted on 04/28/2008 6:33:10 AM PDT by NYer

In the run-up to Pope Benedict XVI's visit to the United States, there was a tremendous display of unseriousness at the National Press Club, followed by a sacrilege at a nearby Washington, D.C., church.

A misguided group called the Women's Ordination Conference held a protest – a press conference and an all-woman "Mass" at a local Methodist church. The group, as the name suggests, wants to see "the ordination of women as priests, deacons and bishops." Sadly, the group doesn't understand women or the Catholic Church.

In a prepared statement, WOC executive director Aisha Taylor declared:

"The failure to ordain women is a blatant manifestation of sexism in the church that has wider repercussions in the world.

"In the three years of his papacy, Pope Benedict XVI has made a few encouraging statements about women, but he has done nothing that suggests willingness to open the discussion on women's ordination. That's why for his 81st birthday, we are offering the pope a present: the gift of women, their leadership, talents, experiences and unique perspectives."

The group trailed the popemobile to papal events with a billboard truck that asked: "Pope Benedict, How long must women wait for equality? Ordain Catholic Women."

As they are stuck on their version of "equality," the fundamental problem with the group and its message is that whatever Benedict says or does will not be enough for them. They are not open to listening, but to dictating an unworkable agenda. If they were open to it, they would hear and see the Roman Catholic Church's embrace and celebration of women. Women will not be priests, but they will always be an essential part of the Church.

(Excerpt) Read more at dallasnews.com ...


TOPICS: Apologetics; Catholic; Theology; Worship
KEYWORDS: catholic; catholics; feminists; papalvisit; womenpriests; wymynpryysts
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To: TraditionalistMommy
Correction: I don't know where it is. My apologies.
141 posted on 04/28/2008 11:04:45 AM PDT by GCC Catholic (Sour grapes make terrible whine.)
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To: jjm2111

Why do think people have stopped believing in transubstantiation?


142 posted on 04/28/2008 11:05:23 AM PDT by TraditionalistMommy
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To: NYer

Sigh...I’ll never be a mother and women will never be priest.


143 posted on 04/28/2008 11:08:38 AM PDT by Straight Vermonter (Posting from deep behind the Maple Curtain)
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To: GCC Catholic

If there is evidence, you should be able to find it pretty easily via Google.


144 posted on 04/28/2008 11:09:19 AM PDT by TraditionalistMommy
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To: TraditionalistMommy
the majority of those in the parish, as in the rest of the country, side with me

Wow, that's a lot of overgrown sorority chicks in Girl Power t-shirts.

145 posted on 04/28/2008 11:11:43 AM PDT by workerbee (Ladies do not start fights, but they can finish them.)
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To: GCC Catholic; Cheverus
I don't know where it is.

I don't know of any complete compilation of data, but Cheverus posted recently on an article in Catholic World Report lising the American dioceses in order of number of vocations per 100,000 (I think) Catholics. He said it wasn't on the 'net, and the only thing I remember is that Boston was 162 out of 174. (Yes, I'm in Boston.)

If he could identify the back issue, you might be able to get a copy.

146 posted on 04/28/2008 11:12:27 AM PDT by maryz
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To: GCC Catholic

What we know now is that the current system does not work.

And you’re right, who knows how many women will want to become priests? Still, if they seek out the priesthood at the same rate men do, we’d have twice as many candidates. That’s a start.

In hours and hours, no one has come up with a reason women shouldn’t be priests here, aside from variations on “it’s just not done!” and “over my dead body!” Not surprising.


147 posted on 04/28/2008 11:15:27 AM PDT by TraditionalistMommy
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To: TraditionalistMommy

Because they were never told WHY they should believe in it. Because they don’t know WHY the Church preaches against Artifical Contraception, abortion, and homosexual “marriage”. Same thing with women priests. Just because a bunch of twenty-somethings who have never cracked the Catechism think it’s a good thing doesn’t make it so.

Do you believe in the Real Presence?


148 posted on 04/28/2008 11:15:56 AM PDT by jjm2111 (Are we going to have a Daily Dose of McCain?)
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To: workerbee

Nothing left in your arsenal but lame ad hominem jabs? I’m shocked!


149 posted on 04/28/2008 11:17:56 AM PDT by TraditionalistMommy
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To: TraditionalistMommy
My church is also just down the street, and the majority of those in the parish, as in the rest of the country, side with me.

Anecdote is not data. The majority of self-identified "Catholics" don't even bother to attend Mass. Are they "right," too?

By the way, one of your errors is the assertion that upholders of orthodoxy need to "prove" that attempting to ordain women is "not right".

Sorry, that's backwards. The burden of proof is 100% on you; you need to prove that the deposit of faith permits it and indeed requires it.

You can't. Your arguments amount to:

  1. Jesus only ordained men, but -- although he was God in the flesh -- he was just being weak and conforming to his culture (!!!!)
  2. It's required to satisfy some abstract concept of "justice", as though a person could demand ordination in fulfillment of some sort of right. It's not a right but a privilege.
  3. Not being ordainable makes women "second-class citizens". (Even though you admit that churches are overwhelmingly female already!) This argument is pure clericalism, and stems from "Catholics" who do not understand that their vocation as Catholic laypeople is to bring the world into the church, not to make the church look, act, and feel like the world.
  4. The Church is "dying" otherwise. Untrue; orthodox dioceses and orthodox religious orders are flourishing. What you propose amounts to ecclesial euthanasia.

150 posted on 04/28/2008 11:18:55 AM PDT by Campion
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To: TraditionalistMommy

Why do you keep demanding statistics on seminary enrollment, etc., when they have absolutely no bearing on your position? Even if there was a 1:1 ratio of priest to parishioner you’d still be stomping your feet about this non-issue. And if it truly is such an onerous doctrine, it begs the question, why continue to attend, contribute to, and raise your children in a Catholic parish when so many other enlightened denominations are waiting with open arms? You don’t believe in papal infallibility, so why call yourself a Catholic? (saving face with grandma, or what?)


151 posted on 04/28/2008 11:19:36 AM PDT by workerbee (Ladies do not start fights, but they can finish them.)
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To: TraditionalistMommy

Lighten up, you’re no victim. (and who was it that threw around the words “bigot” and “misogynist”, hmmm???)


152 posted on 04/28/2008 11:21:52 AM PDT by workerbee (Ladies do not start fights, but they can finish them.)
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To: Campion

Did Jesus ordain any amputees as priests? Does that mean amputees shouldn’t be priests?


153 posted on 04/28/2008 11:22:42 AM PDT by TraditionalistMommy
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To: TraditionalistMommy
In hours and hours, no one has come up with a reason women shouldn’t be priests here ...
We've given you several, but you haven't grasped it yet. Let's try a different iteration.

The priest is the icon of Jesus, who was a man. On a deeper level, the priest is the icon of Christ who comes as the head and bridegroom of the Church, of Christ who comes to pastor and to conceive within the Church the life of grace. The priest is an icon for the whole mystery of Christ’s mediation of God to the people.

154 posted on 04/28/2008 11:25:09 AM PDT by eastsider
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To: TraditionalistMommy

Stop grasping at straws. Do you believe in the Real Presence?


155 posted on 04/28/2008 11:25:31 AM PDT by jjm2111 (Are we going to have a Daily Dose of McCain?)
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To: workerbee

Oh, don’t worry. I’m light as a feather. And I’d use those words again to describe a few posters here with no reservations. I’m surprised you’d even take offense at them.

All right, kiddos. I REALLY gotta run.


156 posted on 04/28/2008 11:26:10 AM PDT by TraditionalistMommy
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To: TraditionalistMommy
no one has come up with a reason women shouldn’t be priests here

#10 and #64.

157 posted on 04/28/2008 11:26:15 AM PDT by workerbee (Ladies do not start fights, but they can finish them.)
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To: jjm2111

You’re projecting.

And I’m Catholic. What do you think?


158 posted on 04/28/2008 11:27:35 AM PDT by TraditionalistMommy
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To: TraditionalistMommy
Those not in favor of women’s ordination tend to be too old to reproduce.

That just shows how out of touch you are.

From Survey assesses Catholics' beliefs, practices on Mass, sacraments

When asked whether they agreed with the statement, "In deciding what is morally acceptable, I look to Catholic Church teachings and statements made by the pope and bishops to form my conscience," the pre-Vatican II Catholics (28 percent) and millennial Catholics (23 percent) were most strongly in agreement.

159 posted on 04/28/2008 11:27:56 AM PDT by Pyro7480 ("If the angels could be jealous of men, they would be so for one reason: Holy Communion." -M. Kolbe)
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To: TraditionalistMommy
And I’d use those words again to describe a few posters here with no reservations.

Fine by me, just don't turn around and cry "ad hominem attack!!" at a little sarcastic humor.

I’m surprised you’d even take offense at them.

Put words in anyone's mouth, much? Who said I was offended? Geez louise.

160 posted on 04/28/2008 11:29:18 AM PDT by workerbee (Ladies do not start fights, but they can finish them.)
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