U.S. Nuns to Vatican: We support Fr. Roy Bourgeois--and women's ordination

Pontifications ^ | December 17, 2008 | David Gibson

[NYer]

Whether Maryknoll priest Fr. Roy Bourgeois has been excommunicated or not remains a mystery. As I wrote here, the Vatican told him to recant for supporting women's ordination--and attending one last July--and at last word he had gone to Rome to plead his cause.

Catholic World News and National Catholic Register think it's a done deal.

The blowback certainly hasn't died down, and today more than 100 nuns from 22 religious congregations released a letter to the Vatican protesting the threatened excommunication of Bourgeois. The letter was organized by the National Coalition of American Nuns (NCAN).

The nuns' statement said they "join Fr. Roy Bourgeois and the majority of U.S. Catholics, who believe that women are called to priestly ordination in the Catholic Church." They "look forward to the day when Catholic women, following in the footsteps of Mary Magdalene, who announced the Resurrection to the male Apostles, will minister as full equals in our church."

"In the first century, Christians resolved their disagreements about following traditions such as circumcision and kosher dietary laws by dialogue and discussion," said Sister Beth Rindler, in other comments released by NCAN. "We need to follow their example by promoting public discussion about the ordination of women," the Franciscan Sister said.

"We hope the excommunication is not issued," added Dominican Sister Donna Quinn, one of the coordinators of NCAN. "The medieval punishment of excommunication serves only to embarrass our Church in the eyes of the world and fuels further anger and resentment among the U.S. faithful."

Read the full text and list of signatories below...

[vladimir998]

You’re going to buy us a lot of donuts.

[IrishBrigade]

Whenever the secular media write about religion, you can automatically deduct 25 IQ points. Whenever it’s about the Catholic Church, deduct 50...

...actually, I’ve heard they start at zero and go negative from there...unless these women want to assert that Jesus was female and His Church is a groom, rather than a bride, what they’re clamoring for makes no sense...unless they believe Jesus was also gay...

[IrishBrigade]

...a very interesting post, I commend you on it; it just so happens that our Parish Council decided ‘teaching events’ prior to the Council meeting proper would be beneficial...events designed to advance parishionate knowledge about Liturgy and the Church though the Council’s efforts...my next presentation delves into Church structure exactly as you’ve laid it out, I can’t wait to see the raised eyebrows at the 21 Eastern churches...

[Aquinasfan]

As a Maryknoll priest for 36 years,

Sad, but not surprising.

[AnAmericanMother]

Bunch of scary looking old womyn.

Not a bright kind look in the eyes of any of them. Contrast that with the joy of the old-fashioned sisters whose orders are bursting with candidates . . . .

[bboop]

No way, it will never happen. All the whining and pouting won’t make it so.

[HamiltonJay]

There are 10s of thousands of Nuns in America, but a few dozen state they believe something counter to church teaching and it becomes news?

I can find that many Fauxbama voters in 3 blocks that believe something about their candidate and his stands that are completely untrue.

[ArrogantBustard]

Joan Chittister, OSB

Hah!!!!

[PasorBob]

Among the 55 propositions presented to Benedict XVI at the conclusion of the synod of bishops on the Word of God, is the suggestion to open the formal ministry of lector to women.

The proposition is No. 17 on the list and it makes reference to indications from Pope Paul VI after the Second Vatican Council regarding “instituted,” not “ordained” ministries.

A translation of the proposition reads: “The synod fathers recognize and encourage the service of laypeople in the transmission of the faith. Women, in particular, have in this regard an indispensable role, above all in the family and in catechesis. In fact, women know how to stir up the listening to the Word and the personal relationship with God, and to communicate the meaning of forgiveness and the Gospel capacity to share.

“It is suggested that the ministry of lector be opened also to women, so that in the Christian communities, their role as announcers of the Word is recognized.”

The proposition was approved, meaning at least two-thirds of the assembly voted in favor of it.

Canon 230 of the Code of Canon Law states that only qualified men may be “installed on a stable basis in the ministries of lector and acolyte.” The canon adds that “laypersons can fulfill the function of lector during liturgical actions by temporary deputation,” which is why women currently read at Masses all over the world.

The ministries of acolyte and lector are not ordained ministries, unlike the deaconate, the priesthood and the episcopacy.

http://catholiccitizens.org/platform/platformview.asp?c=48541

[NYer]

my next presentation delves into Church structure exactly as you’ve laid it out, I can’t wait to see the raised eyebrows at the 21 Eastern churches...

Kudos! Most Catholics (myself included) have never been introduced to the Eastern Catholic Churches and yet, they are older than the Latin Rite. St. Peter served as Bishop of Antioch before going to Rome. The Chaldeans, Maronites and Malabars all retain the Antiochean liturgy with Aramaic for the Consecration. The Maronites trace their history back to the Jews. Many Syriac and Maronite Churches were constructed on the foundations of Synagogues and to this day, retain certain design elements of the Jewish Synagogue - the 'bema' - where the Word was proclaimed.

In these images from the funeral of JPII, you will notice a group of Eastern prelates standing at the foot of oriental rug, while two others incense the coffin of JPII. These are ALL Catholic Patriarchs, Metropolitans and Bishops. After the Rite of Interment, nine official days of mourning began. The devotional called novemdiales features a Mass of Requiem on each of the nine days at St. Peter's Basilica. Several cardinals were chosen by Cardinal Ratzinger to have the honor of presiding over each Mass. His Beatitude Mar Nasrallah Peter Cardinal Sfeir, Patriarch for the Maronites was chosen to celebrate the Divine Liturgy for the Eastern Churches.

Should you need any additional information, do not hesitate to ask. If there are any Eastern Catholic parishes nearby, you may want to suggest the group plan on attending the Divine Liturgy. Enjoy the project and please let me know how it is received :-)

[AKA Elena]

Glad I did NOT see any O.Carm or ODC on the list.

I also disagree with the 20 year timeline for the Everlasting Church to change the MALE requirements for priests!

[ArrogantBustard]

I will take that bet. When I win I want the doughnut, Boston Creme.

The way that bet was phrased, if PB loses it, he'll owe you a dollar, not a doughnut.

In 20 years the doughnut might be worth more, though ... so I'm not willing to take the bet.

[ArrogantBustard]

My biggest enigma is why are they not seeking ordination in Protestant communities?

They wish to "sing a new church into being" destroy the Catholic Church. They can't do this by joining an existing Protestant community.

[vox_freedom]

And what does this "lector" issue have to do with your prediction that women will be ordained as Roman Catholic priestesses w/in twenty years?

That is a delusion, aka prediction, that will not occur. If you desire that to happen, there are numerous Protestant churches that will welcome your participation.

[PasorBob]

And what does this "lector" issue have to do with your prediction that women will be ordained as Roman Catholic priestesses w/in twenty years?

It is a classic example of the "slippery slope" phenomenon. I haven't said that I desire it, just that I believe it will happen. It was meant as a point for discussion. Kinda what forums are for.

[kosta50]

They wish to "sing a new church into being" destroy the Catholic Church. They can't do this by joining an existing Protestant community

You have a point there AB. :)

[vladimir998]

I think you are over estimating the worth of the proposition you posted about. Here is the actual text:

Proposition 17: Ministry of the Word and women

The synod fathers recognize and encourage the service of the laity in the transmission of the faith. Women, in particular, have an indispensable role on this point, above all in the family and in catechesis. In fact, they know how to arouse hearing of the Word and the personal relationship with God, and how to communicate the meaning of forgiveness and evangelical sharing.
It’s hoped that ministry of lector can be opened also to women, so that their role as announcers of the Word may be recognized in the Christian community.

Lector is FAR, FAR FROM THE SAME ROLE as ordained priests - which women can never be since there is no power on earth with authority to ordain women. Period. Case closed. Ain’t gonna happen.

[kosta50]

Contrast that with the joy of the old-fashioned sisters whose orders are bursting with candidates

Indeed.

[AnAmericanMother]

Happy Poor Clares:

(with Mother Angelica)

This order is starting new houses all over the South. I'm sure there are others, but they are the first ones I thought of.

[kosta50]

There is life in them, isn’t there. They don’t look like retired school principles with an axe to grind.