[TraditionalistMommy]

There is simply no good reason women should not be eligible for the priesthood. I am Catholic, and most of the Catholics I know agree with me, but also agree that the Church is so behind on this issue, we’re not likely to see a remedy in our lifetimes.

[Pyro7480]

Are you serious or joking? If you’re serious, then why is your name “TraditionalistMommy”?

[ArrogantBustard]

1) Theological reasons for not ordaining women are laid out in Pope John Paul II's (infallibly declared) encyclical Ordinatio Sacerdotalis. If you haven't read it, you might consider doing so.

2) In my own personal opinion, the best practical argument against ordaining women is to be found in the character of the women most loudly clamouring for ordination. They appear to see the priesthood exclusively in terms of power and authority, rather than service and sacrifice.

[Havok]

Its an APOSTOLIC church.

[workerbee]

A traditionalist understands the Church is not a democracy, has never been a democracy, and never will be a democracy. If that is something you can’t accept, there are many alternative Christian sects available that will welcome and celebrate your view of equality.

[jjm2111]

The Church’s response would be, “We haven’t been given the authority (from God) to do this.”

[eastsider]

There is simply no good reason women should not be eligible for the priesthood.

The strongest reason I can give you for why women cannot be priests is that priests act in persona Christi capitis -- in the Person of Christ the Head.

It's true that, in baptism, we have all put on Christ and that he has incorporated us into his Body, and in that sense we can speak about everyone in every vocation acting in persona Christi. But the Church always speaks specifically of the priest acting in persona Christi capitis. The body of the Church is just that -- the body, not the head. Christ alone is the head, and the priest has the unique vocation of representing the unique headship of Jesus Christ.

[Cronos]

Here's my 2¢ -- the Church moves slowly, carefully. I don't think we're ready for women priests -- remember that you may be ok with it in the West, but the Church exists in Africa, the Middle East, South Asia, East Asia etc and the Church is globally spread.

It is moving slowly -- women are encouraged to participate more in the Church as sacristans, deacons, alter-servers etc. And you can't convince me that nuns ain't as tough as priests and definitely in many cases as or more important!! Maybe in the next century or after that we could have female priests, but it would be after a lot of thought and care.

The Anglican Church went head-long into change and it snow-balled, first they allowed female priests, then they allowed abortions, then practising gaybishops. And when Genie Richards was made bish, Christian homes in Nigeria and elsewhere were burnt.

[Wonder Warthog]

"There is simply no good reason women should not be eligible for the priesthood. I am Catholic, and most of the Catholics I know agree with me, but also agree that the Church is so behind on this issue, we’re not likely to see a remedy in our lifetimes."

Sure there is---Christ didn't choose any women as Apostles (disciples, yes, but not Apostles). Nor did the Apostles ever choose any women to be bishops. And based on those facts the Church has made an infallible judgment that women cannot be priests---so fuggedaboutit.

[nickcarraway]

Since we have such a low birthrate, are we long past the time when men should start bearing children? It makes sense doesn’t it?

[lastchance]

Please take a glimpse at “Ordinatio Sacerdotalis, John Paul II, 22 May 1994 - Apostolic Letter” This settled the matter as far as the teaching of the Church. If you continue to deny the conclusion that the Church has no right and will never have a right to ordain women you are simply not Catholic.

You are in rebellion and your heart will continue to harden. The answer if readily available and that is repentence. If you can not repent than you need to leave the Church and shop around for one that suits your own views. I think there are some empty pews in 815 churches. Give them a holler.

[A.A. Cunningham]

You are, quite simply, ignorant and I seriously doubt that you are a Catholic.

Wherefore, in order that all doubt may be removed regarding a matter of great importance, a matter which pertains to the Church's divine constitution itself, in virtue of my ministry of confirming the brethren (cf. Lk 22:32) I declare that the Church has no authority whatsoever to confer priestly ordination on women and that this judgment is to be definitively held by all the Church's faithful.

[arthurus]

Churches with female clergy become Women’s churches. The men mostly opt out because religion becomes something the wife takes care of. That is not the reasoning of the Church but is a practical reason to avoid female clergy.Women are in charge of most of the other “ministries” in many Catholic Churches and men participate very little. Those ministries have become “women’s work.”