Women's ordination tied to justice in the church

--The Vatican Council declares that the human person has the right to religious freedom. Freedom of this kind means that all people should be immune from coercion on the part of individuals, social groups and every human power so that, within due limits, nobody is force to act against their convictions in religious matters in private or in public, alone or in association with others.--

Certainly. But that freedom does not extend to changing church teaching to suit yourself. There are many denominations that allow women to be ordained as priests or ministers. Choose one. Or found your own. It's a free country.

She can speak her mind all she wants; but if she is speaking against the Church don't expect to teach on behalf of the Church. White supremacists also have freedom of speech; however, the NAACP won't be paying them to speak at their meetings.

Not THIS again....

Why keep talking about something so anti-Catholic and completely impossible? Women's "ordination" is a human myth created in complete opposition to the Gospel of Jesus Christ, the Will of God, and the evidence of all Salvation History.

Nuns aren't the only ones who have the right to religious freedom--CHURCHES have that right too--including the Catholic Church, which has the RIGHT to determine what it means to be Catholic in spite of contrary voices wishing otherwise....

Sr Akers in using the Vatican II document on religious freedom which is clearly talking about religious freedom as a political right to defend her dissent from a Defide (infallible) doctrine shows that she is a sterling Liberal!

Sister Akers does indeed have religious freedom as a private Catholic.the Vatican Council document on Religious Freedom does not apply in the same way when she is speaking as an authority for the Catholic Church. Her religious vows compel her to form her conscience to the mind of the Church. If she cannot do so, then she is not to have the ability to teach in an archdiocesan institution, she can do so as a private person.

It's that simple. Twisting the document on religious freedom to mean that anyone ought to be able to say anything they want if they have teaching faculties is wrong.

Ordinatio Sacerdotalis closed the discussion, period. If sister cannot honor God through submission to the Church, then it says more about the sister's faith than anything else.

This woman is a heretic and should be expelled from her community and excommunicated.The 70's are over honey so get ready.

I sympathize with Sister Louise, and share her view that the Church is not above the law it declares for others. For the current pope as a cardinal to declare that the church has no authority to ordain women simply goes beyond what any rational person could accept as credible. The church has the authority to loose and bind what it chooses--and that straight from the mouth of Jesus. Now, if the church restricts that mandate to the arena of sin, then it will have to show in Scripture where ordaining women is prohibited. Otherwise, that dictum is strictly a matter of interpretation and clearly within church authority. The church just wants to shift blame to God and disavow any responsibility for their second rate treatment of women. Too bad the rest of us can see the filth on their skirts, and I do mean skirts. The Vatican chiefs don't want women ordained deacon or priest because the current deacons and priests already wear the skirts in the family. What the Vatican needs is someone to wear the pants in the family.

Another liberal misunderstanding Church Teaching. She should read all of Vatican II, and then do so in conjunction with all other Church Councils.

Sr. Akers is an awesomely courageous woman. Evidence of the Holy Spirit alive in the world today. Rome could learn much from her but alas, I think their eyes, ears and hearts are closed to learning anything from anyone outside their closed doors.

Congratulations, Sr. Louise Akers. Your warm, strong, confident smile says it all.

Re: women's ordination, to put it starkly, I've always wondered what qualities of ministry attach to a penis over a vagina.

And still they wonder why an apostolic visitation is necessary....

"The Vatican Council declares that the human person has the right to religious freedom. Freedom of this kind means that all people should be immune from coercion on the part of individuals, social groups and every human power so that, within due limits, nobody is force to act against their convictions in religious matters in private or in public, alone or in association with others."

The ability to teach, or to hold any kind of position in a diocese is not a fundamental right. The sister's fundamental right to religious freedom under the document has not been violated.

You're free to pursue your heretical interests outside the structures of the Catholic Church. "Sister's" ability to speak her mind is not in question. What is in question are her communion with the Church and her ability to be a catechist without causing scandal to the faithful.

A lot of people agree with Sr Louise Akers that the issue is a matter of justice.
By excluding women from any role in leadership and governance we limit them to second level participation in the life of the church community. The secular world has seen this injustice and is in process of correcting it.
Instead of being a leader in equal opportunity, the catholic church perpetuates discrimination on grounds of gender.
You can express your commitment to equal opportunity on this website: www.apologytowomen.com
This is an Invitation to Catholic Men to apologize to the Women of the Church for their unjust treatment. It arose from the concern of a small group of ordinary people in Australia.
If you need further information, email gal328@netxp.com.au

I had lunch with Sr. Louise and heard her talk. She did a wonderful sharing. It is time for Archbishops and Bishops to hear the people. I suggest WE HAVE A YEAR OF LISTENING!!!!. Time for Bishops to hear us. Go, Sister, Go!!!!