What's the problem with women becoming priests in the Catholic church?
112294
It would require some understanding as to the decision making process in the Catholic Church.  The Catholic Church is a highly varied body.  There is more internal variation inside the Catholic Church than there is across all of Protestantism.  All Protestant groups have an analog within the Church, the reverse is not true.\n\nFirst, the bible was canonized 350 years after the death of Jesus.  There wasn't a book someone could call the bible to cite as a reference.  They often did cite the scriptures, but they were not referring to the NT in the early Church.  They did also cite that which was handed on, traditio, from the apostles.  The bible is part of what was handed on, but not the whole of what was handed on.\n\nIn the early Church women were not ordained to the major orders, deacon, priest or bishop.  There were deaconesses, but their ordinations were different from the men.  Because early Christians did not do it, the Church cannot change it now.  When John Paul II was asked to rule on ordaining women, he ruled he could not change anything.  Popes and bishops may not make changes to beliefs, even if those beliefs no longer make sense.  Just because roles have changed does not change what was handed on.  Jesus was pretty radical, if he had wanted Mary Magdalene to be an Apostle, he could have made her one.  None of the Twelve, or the Seventy were women.  This may simply have been practical for some reason.  Nonetheless, what is is.\n\nUnlike Protestants who get to vote at conferences about what they believe, the rule in the Catholic Church is simple.  What did the early Christians believe and do?  That guides everything else.
853949
i do agree with you in a manner of speaking.  parents her ein the US want their children to have more and more - material items andmoney are more important.  there are some families that still relish the fact that a child has a calling.  i know of a few from within my own schooling.  none from my own grades but from some above and below.  in other countried, it is still a great honor to have a c hild become a priest or a nun.  if you go to rome you can see scads of young priests and nuns, however those that are in the US are generally from another country,
1163985
Being a priest in the middle ages wasn't what we consider it now.  It was mostly a politcial position bought for second sons.  Like being a politician today there were some people that took their job seriously, and then there were the people who were spoiled and corrupt.  There was almost no accountablity, so those that broke the Church's rules paid their way out if they got into trouble, or did what they wanted.  The widespread corruption was what eventually lead to the breaking of Church authority.
73122
This is a leadership role. The women were to teach the younger women. This is the order that God has established for the church and the home.
688062
This is the seat of power for manipulation and corruption on a grand scale. They believe themselves to be law unto themselves, without having to pay for the consequences of their actions.\n\nBut in one sence, we the people throughout history have to take some of the responsibility for this, due to the fact that many in the world were happy to relinquish control of their own actions and responsibilities over to the vatican.\n\nThe big problem that I see, is that Catholics in particular have forgotten that the church is there to serve them not the other way around. Most people forget this, but churches in many cases seem to thrive on it.
1047783
To really be objective, you have to look at the reason that women have been mostly excluded from the clergy for so long. \n\nThe Episcopalian church has had female priests for a long time - and has never had an actual rule against female bishops. This is just the first time one has been promoted, and so it's the first time people have had to deal with it. \n\nSo why hasn't it happened sooner? Because the Episcopal church is closely related to the Catholic church, and the Catholic church does not allow female priests. Why is that?\n\nBecause when it was founded, and for a long (long) time after that, only men could be land owners. The church needed land. So, when a man joined the priesthood he brought with him whatever land he owned. He wasn't allowed to marry because that would give him an heir to the land. Since he had no heirs, he would leave the land to the church on his death, and the church's land holdings grew. It made a lot of sense.\n\nNone of that happens anymore, and so there is no practical reason for the prohibition of female priests or married priests. However, the dogma is still there that says only unmarried males can be priests. \n\nPersonally, I'm Roman Catholic - and I'd love the see my church do away with that antiquated law. The Episcopalians already have. And for that, I say, "Good for them!"  Hopefully the Catholic church will eventually follow. \n\nWayne
652023
a big thank you thank you, this is what i have been trying to get through to ppl. Its an mental illness that affects people from all walks of life. Not just a catholic priest. Only reason they pick on the catholics about this is because the church doesn't allow the priest to get married. so there  is where they come up with this bs. My point is if  that is the case. then whats  the excuse of all the others that do this  and are married?
595043
The Catechism of the Catholic Church states: "Only a baptized man validly receives sacred ordination." The Lord Jesus chose men 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. For this reason the ordination of women is not possible.\n\nWith love in Christ.
685451
The Vatican loves it when lots of poor ignorant people have sex and lots of kids...that keeps em dependent and looking for help, which keeps the Catholic Church in business. \nChurch is just as much a racket as anything else is, and guys like that are looking for another gullible 'flock' to exploit, and they're as much to thank/blame for the US/Mexico problem as anyone else. I think it's time for the Church to pay taxes and do ALL their business in public view, right in front of 'god' and everybody! LOLOL Time to broom out the corners, there....
1175022
Well if you're looking to become a priest it might get really complicated. Plus if you were to go to a convent it would get even more confusing. \n\nCatholic priests are not supposed to have a wife and children (no Christian is supposed to divorce, if the priest knows a person has been divorced he can not give them Communion). As for just a part of the basic clergy like an usher or a minister I'm not so sure on the rules but if you're looking to be a priest or have some position like it in the church it's probably not going to happen if you're Catholic.\n\nAs for what you should actually do, I'd say continue on with your basic life with your wife and kids. You can volenteer for lots of stuff at your church since there should be a lot of things going on (this is just from thoughts of my own church) and volenteers are always welcome. So basically I think you can fulfill this "calling" simply by keeping your basic life and just volenteering. I know you're sitting there saying "Wait, this looks too simple." Well in theory it's enough since service to God is a service that He will never forget no matter how much that service is.
48889
Because Christianity (Especially Catholocism) is grossly out of date. Think about it, this religion COMPLETELY segregates people by gender. The Catholic church has roles that a man fills and roles that a woman fills, that's the way it always has been, and probably always will be.
394230
They are control freaks and their view-points come straight from the Puritanical Movement in America. If you remember how the Church was like the first Communism during the Middle Ages, it makes sense. If you feel free to do anything you want, you might not need them to help 'guide' you. This looses them money, power, and influence in your life. Its not enough for them to be decent, honest people. They feel the need to force you to be that way too, 'for your own good'. How patronizing! Let them know that you are an adult and make your own choices fully aware of the consequences and that you dont need their 'help'.
826353
as a Catholic cantor I know many dozens of Priests personally who are fed up with the wrong media messages that are doing the rounds about celibacy, all the Priests that I know love their calling and accept the gift of celibacy with joy, a small percentage of Priests have been used as the voice of all the Priesthood and denounced celibacy and this is not indicative of the vast majority.
689674
Because this practice(along with others) by Catholics is not scripturally based. \n\ntosmith
927514
Well, all Christian women ARE priests.  1 Peter 2:9.\n\nIf you are talking about why women should hold any religious office, however, there is only one reason:  Because they feel their "rights" are more important than the Word of God.  However, why would someone who believes that their rights are more important than the Word of God want to be a minister of the Word?!?
323195
Now this is just my opinion!  for many years catholic priests have sexually assaulted young boys and it was covered up by the catholic communities?Only in recent years have there been  charges filed against these priests.They can no longer "just transfer" them to a new parish!Because some of those boys and their families were brave enough to contact a police department instead of the church!I have often wondered,why aren't the priests allowed to marry? because they are trying to be God like,because Christ wasn't married? now in answer to your question,I think they'd probably get rid of the woman and child to protect the pope's reputation and credibility!
144822
cos then they would not have much left to play with!!!!!\n\nand we all no how much priests like to play with things even when they dont belong to them