Posted on 09/27/2024 9:19:47 PM PDT by SeekAndFind
A new report reveals that most Catholics in the United States and Latin America support ordaining women to the priesthood despite their faith’s clear teaching on the matter.
The Pew Research Center released the results of a survey Thursday based on responses collected from 3,655 Catholics in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Mexico and Peru from Jan. 22-April 27 and 2,051 Catholics in the U.S. collected from Feb. 13-25. The report documents a divergence between the beliefs of Catholics in these countries and the teachings of their faith.
When asked if they supported ordaining women to the priesthood, majorities of Catholics in nearly every country surveyed answered in the affirmative. Support for female priests among Catholics was strongest in Brazil (83%) followed by Argentina (71%), Chile (69%), Peru (65%), the U.S. (64%) and Colombia (56%). Only in Mexico did a majority of Catholics (51%) oppose ordaining women to the priesthood.
The Catechism of the Catholic Church declares that “Only a baptized man (vir) validly receives sacred ordination.” According to Church teaching, “The Lord Jesus chose men (viri) to form the college of the twelve apostles, and the apostles did the same when they chose collaborators to succeed them in their ministry. The college of bishops, with whom the priests are united in the priesthood, makes the college of the twelve an ever-present and ever-active reality until Christ’s return.”
“The Church recognizes herself to be bound by this choice made by the Lord himself,” the Catechism explains. “For this reason the ordination of women is not possible.”
Mexican Catholics are also an outlier when it comes to support for allowing Catholics to receive communion even if they're living with a romantic partner they're not married to. Just 45% of Mexican Catholics thought the Church should allow cohabitating Catholics to receive communion in contrast to 52% of Colombian Catholics, 56% of Peruvian Catholics, 59% of Brazilian Catholics, 73% of Chilean Catholics, 75% of American Catholics and 77% of Catholics in Argentina.
The Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches that “those obstinately persevering in manifest grave sin are not to be admitted to holy communion.” A separate passage of the Catechism explains that “Carnal union is morally legitimate only when a definitive community of life between a man and woman has been established.” Church teaching stresses that “Human love does not tolerate ‘trial marriages,’” but rather “demands a total and definitive gift of persons to one another.”
The report showed wide support for allowing Catholics to use birth control in every country surveyed. Eighty-six percent of Catholics in Argentina expressed support for changing church teaching on the matter along with 83% of American Catholics, 80% of Chilean Catholics, 76% of Colombian Catholics, 75% of Peruvian Catholics, 69% of Mexican Catholics and 63% of Brazilian Catholics.
Paragraph 2370 of the Catechism states that “every action which, whether in anticipation of the conjugal act, or in its accomplishment, or in the development of its natural consequences, proposes, whether as an end or as a means, to render procreation impossible” is “intrinsically evil.”
When it comes to allowing priests to get married, support was highest among U.S. Catholics (69%), followed by Chilean Catholics (65%) and Argentine Catholics (64%). Around half of Catholics in Colombia (52%) and Brazil (50%) thought the Church should permit priests to get married, while significantly smaller shares of Catholics in Mexico (38%) and Peru (32%) said the same.
According to Paragraph 1579 of the Catechism, priests “are normally chosen from among men of faith who live a celibate life and who intend to remain celibate ‘for the sake of the kingdom of heaven.’ Called to consecrate themselves with undivided heart to the Lord and to ‘the affairs of the Lord,’ they give themselves entirely to God and to men. Celibacy is a sign of this new life to the service of which the Church’s minister is consecrated; accepted with a joyous heart celibacy radiantly proclaims the Reign of God.”
Only the issue of allowing same-sex couples to marry registered opposition from most Catholics in a majority of the countries surveyed. While most Catholics in Argentina (70%), Chile (64%) and the U.S. (54%) thought the Church should “recognize the marriages of gay and lesbian couples,” less than half of Catholics in Mexico (46%), Brazil (43%), Colombia (40%) and Peru (32%) had the same feeling.
Church teaching proclaims that “homosexual acts are intrinsically disordered,” adding, “Under no circumstances can they be approved.”
Survey Results here:
Doesn’t matter what a bunch of poorly catechized “Catholics” think, nor the Pope or bishops for that matter. It’s not up for a vote.
Exactly.
Prayers up for Holy Mother Church.
As I always tell “Catholics” who pine for womenpriests, out-and-proud LGBT priests, etc., it’s like the sign says... Episcopal Church USA welcomes you.
As a practicing Catholic woman HELL NO!!!!!!!!!!!!
I’m Catholic, and yes. I support qualified women to be ordained into the priesthood
We’re somewhat low on priests right now
We should not dismiss half the population, based mainly on tradition and custom.If someone feels the love and power of God. and feels called to spread His word. let him or her do so.
Most Catholics are lefties as well.
Tradition and custom? Really? Tradition and custom?
It was Christ Himself who chose only men.
Those behind the survey know exactly what lies they're trying to spread.
RE: We’re somewhat low on priests right now
Why not allow married men to be priests like it was prior to the 5th century?
God says different.
Priests in the Eastern Rite of the Catholic Church have married since the time of Christ and continue to this day.
That would also make sense, and for many reasons.
Yes. The United States didn't make it half a century as a missionary-origin country before regressing to a missionary-destination country. We need missionaries once again because Catholics haven't been taught Catholicism.
It probably comes down to money. Women and children are expensive.
It will be interesting to see how AI will affect religions. Having a two way chatting Artificial Jesus, Buddha, Muhammad in your pocket, closely watching, has huge potential for both good and evil.
...and the 19th amendment turned out so well...
Tell me you’re Episcopalian without actually saying you’re Episcopalian.
Catholic doctrine is not subject to popular vote, at least it shouldn’t be.
I am not a Catholic, but Scripture and tradition are immutable and not subject to the opinions of church members, clergy, or even the hierarchy. Too many Protestant denominations have fallen to whatever intellectual fad is prevalent and become devoid of faithfulness to Scripture.
What is your denomination’s position on the ordination of women?
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.