 |
Pope John Paul II wrote several apostolic letters on the subject, the last in 1994, To the Bishops of the Catholic Church on Reserving Priestly Ordination to Men Alone (Ordinatio Sacerdotalis). Here you find a summary of the traditional argument. Fundamentally it is not admissible to ordain women because: 1. The example of Christ was to choose only men; 2. the constant practice of the church has imitated Christ; 3. the constant teaching authority that excludes women is in accordance with God’s plan for the church. While the church recognizes “the greatness of the mission” to which women are called, “of capital importance” for the “renewal and humanization of society,” the pope concludes: “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.”
Scripture (cited by church documents)
• Mark 3:13-19; Matthew 10:1-4; Luke 6:12-16; 1 Timothy 3:1-13; Titus 1:5-9
Books
• The Catholic Priesthood and Women: A Guide to the Teaching of the Church by Sara Butler, M.S.B.T. (Hillenbrand Books, 2006)
• Woman at the Altar: The Ordination of Women in the Roman Catholic Church by Lavinia Byrne (Continuum, 1999)
Ask Alice a question.
More questions...and responses
What’s so important about the Council of Trent?
What are the “Precepts of the Church”?
Do Catholics take the biblical creation story literally?
Is Purgatory still “on the books”?
Why is it important to participate regularly in the Mass?
Why can people go to Mass on Saturday evening instead of Sunday?
Did King David compose the psalms?
Who were Jesus' “brothers and sisters”?
Is there really a Catholic Index of Forbidden Books?
What are the corporal and spiritual works of mercy?
What’s the difference between celibacy and chastity?
Is it “Catholic” to be vegetarian? Do Catholics care about animal suffering?
What does the Bible say about Judgment Day?
Why do Christians believe Jesus is God incarnate?
What’s that picture of Jesus with rays flowing from him?
Who chose the "Seven Deadly Sins"?
"What should I believe about hell?"
Is the Mass a “holy sacrifice” or a “celebration”—or both?
Pulpit, lectern, ambo: What’s the difference?
What is “discernment of spirits”?
Is environmentalism “Catholic” or a political football?
Why do Catholics believe in the Immaculate Conception?
Do Catholics believe in ghosts?
What is the Liturgy of the Hours?
How does God “answer” prayers?
What does “salvation history” mean?
Why do Catholics believe in the Assumption of Mary?
Why do priests wear vestments?
What is Catholic decision-making?
How does the Catholic Church view other religions?
What's the difference between chapels, churches, cathedrals, and basilicas?
Where do the Stations of the Cross come from?
What's the relationship between the Old Testament and the New Testament?
When and where is it appropriate to bow inside Catholic churches?
Can I come back to the church?
Why does the priest talk after the readings at Mass?
What's the difference between catechesis and evangelization?
Didn't Saint Paul write all the letters attributed to him?
Are we supposed to believe in angels and demons in the 21st century?
Who are the saints and why do we pray to them?
Who are the "Doctors of the Church"?
How were the books of the Bible chosen?
What's the difference between saying "set" prayers and prayers in my own words?
What do Catholics have to believe?
Who were the prophets? Does God still call people to prophecy?
Why do Catholics bless themselves, genuflect, and so on?
What do we mean by the church’s “magisterium”?
Is there salvation outside the Catholic Church?
What do people in religious life do for fun?
Why is celibacy important to religious life?
Vocation: For all of life, or only "religious life"?
Is my vocation from God or just my imagination?
What does the Bible say about discipleship?
How do I know whether be an order priest or a diocesan priest?
What do Catholics believe about scripture and tradition?
"Sin" is such a negative word. Can't we just talk about “failure”?