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PDF versionVatican stops women's ordinations in Catholic church
Dec. 08, 2009
MELBOURNE, Australia -- An Anglican ordination that was scheduled to be held in a Roman Catholic church in rural Australia was moved to a Protestant church because the Vatican refused to have women ordained in a Catholic building.
Catholic Bishop Joseph Grech of Sandhurst had given permission for the Anglican bishop of Bendigo, Andrew Curnow, to ordain seven candidates in St. Killian's Catholic Church on Nov. 29 after the local Anglican cathedral was closed for safety reasons.
But when it was discovered that four of the ordinands were women, Rome vetoed the local leadership, saying the ordinations could not take place within the Catholic building, even though it was an Anglican service.
Curnow told Ecumenical News International that he had been informed that the decision was entirely due to the presence of female ordinands. "It was felt that this would be sending the wrong signal regarding the ordination of women from a Catholic perspective," he said.
Instead, the ordinations were shifted to a local church of the Uniting Church in Australia, a Protestant denomination that has a history of ordaining women.
The decision to stop the ordinations in the Catholic church building was handed down through the office of the apostolic nuncio, or Vatican ambassador, to Australia, Archbishop Giuseppe Lazzarotto.
"After much discussion with Archbishop Giuseppe Lazzarotto and the Vatican, the ramifications were investigated," Grech told the Bendigo Advertiser. "The Catholic Church's doctrine on the ordination of deacons and priests is well known.
"There were certain issues within the doctrine that created problems. It's the best thing for both churches."
This is more than just a
This is more than just a touchy decision! So many Catholic Bishops claim that Anglican ordinations of men are not valid. I would assume that Bishop Grech accepts this teaching. So if he believes that the ordination of Anglican men are not valid, what is all the fuss about Anglican women. Looks like more very twisted logic going on in the Discussions with Archbishop Lazzarotto. But then what can we expect from men that feel that mental reservations are excuses for lies?
Peace and understanding,
R. Dennis Porch, MD
Actually, doctor, the entire
Actually, doctor, the entire Church believes that Anglican orders are invalid...the entire Church (which as usual would include everyone excpet the NCR, LCWR, CTA, etc).
Church of the Dividing (Roman
Church of the Dividing (Roman Catholic): Those dirty, filthy, stinkin' women are just not as good as men and Jesus was a man and this is the way He wanted it. Can't have them gettin' too uppity now, can we, and thinkin' they can be ordained, even if it's not in our Divisive Faith that denies their talents. Like the Muslims, we cannot even have these women even in our buildings.
Church of the Uniting (Australia): Please come. All are welcome here.
Sad move by the Vatican when
Sad move by the Vatican when the local bishop was doing the right thing making the church building available. What is Rome so scared of? It comes off as a fear of female leadership and a weak male leadership in Rome.
It comes off that women are
It comes off that women are too dirty to be in a Catholic Church.
Oh please. Spare us your
Oh please. Spare us your overly dramatic reading of a simple pastoral decision.
"Rome vetoed the local
"Rome vetoed the local leadership,..."
A phrase...oops, I mean clause we'll be seeing more and more of...
This is a clear case, indeed
This is a clear case, indeed proof, that the Vatican's opposition to the presbyterial ordination of women has nothing to do with doctrine or tradition and everything to do with sinful misogyny. BTW, who does the pope confess his abominable sins to?
It looks like a case of the
It looks like a case of the lingering ancient fear of female pollution of the sanctuary. Nothing christian and nothing rational about it, that's for sure.
It's bad enough the Rome
It's bad enough the Rome tries to control the way Catholics act and think, not the control extends to other Christian Churches.
So much for ecumenism. How
So much for ecumenism. How would this be any different from allowing a Protestant wedding, funeral, baptism, or Sunday service to take place in a Catholic church building?
I applaud the Holy See for
I applaud the Holy See for prohibiting this "ordination" of women from taking place inside St. Killian's Parish. The "ordination" of a woman inside of a Catholic parish church could lead people to conclude that the Roman Catholic Church approves of such actions.
Of course this decision has nothing to do with the Church's view of the validity of the "ordination" of a woman, since the "ordination" of a woman is impossible to be valid; and also since Anglican orders are invalid in and of themselves. This decision is meant to avoid giving scandal to the faithful and to prevent confusion from arising among the faithful.
Again, the Holy See acts in charity to protect the faithful from scandal and to protect and proclaim the Truth to all nations.
No Roman Catholic Church
No Roman Catholic Church should ever let any pseudo-ordinations take place by any protestant. None of them are valid according to Church teaching. To allow one inside a Catholic Church is blasphemous.
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