Question. “I think that the new Pope should allow priests to marry and/or date and for women to become priests. John Paul was a good Pope but too old fashioned, the modern church is suffering because of his old policies.”
Answer: Certainly, celibacy is a Roman Rite Church discipline and as such could conceivably be changed in the future. That said, it must be understood that priests voluntarily accept this discipline. They have many years of formation during which this subject is much discussed and ample time to consider the ramifications of their decision. Committing themselves […]
Gender and the Will of God
The Issue of Priestesses is Ultimately an Issue of God Peter Kreeft C. S. Lewis said that he wrote the books he wished someone else would write, but they didn’t, so he did. I feel the same way, and so I write in answer to the need, often expressed by me and often expressed to me, […]
From Communist Militant to Underground Priest
Father Bao’s China Odyssey BEIJING, JUNE 26, 2005 (Zenit.org).- Conversions to Christianity, along with consecrated vocations, are increasing in China, says AsiaNews. Despite incessant atheist propaganda and the lack of religious freedom, many young people are reportedly looking into Christianity out of curiosity — and some are joining the Catholic faith. A survey conducted by […]
We Place Our Trust in You, Most Beloved Priests of Jesus Christ
Bud Macfarlane, Sr. Deo Gratias! The Church’s 40 years in the desert of dissent, deceit, and deadly silence about its constant infallible teaching on contraception in Humanae Vitae will soon be over. The “sensitive soft sell” and “sickening silence” regarding the spiritual cancer of contraception has emptied the well, and the Catholic Church in America is dying of […]
Where are the Shepherds?
Fr. Joseph F. Wilson This past December 8th, (2002) was the first anniversary of my receiving into the full communion of the Catholic Church the rector of the local Episcopal church. He had for years watched sadly as one aberration after another had taken hold in his denomination, and finally decided that it was time to […]
Women and the Sacrament of Holy Orders
Professor Gehard Ludwig Müller, Munich The Catholic Church’s practice, from its origin until today, to administer the Sacrament of Holy Orders only to baptised men who are fully in communion with the Church itself is unanimous. This practice is deeply-rooted in the belief that according to the Christ’s founding will (regards to the community of […]
Why a priest should wear his Roman Collar
Msgr. Charles M. Mangan & Father Gerald E. Murray It is our contention that the rather widespread practice of priests neglecting to wear their collar when they should is both a sign and a cause of malaise in the Church. The Directory for the Ministry and Life of Priests, prepared by the Congregation for the Clergy and […]
Regarding the crime of attempting sacred ordination of a woman
Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith General Decree Regarding the crime of attempting sacred ordination of a woman The Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, to protect the nature and validity of the sacrament of holy orders, in virtue of the special faculty conferred to it by the supreme authority of the Church […]
The Ordination of Women
Why does the Catholic Church not ordain women? Were not deaconesses ordained in the early Church? A common justification for the ordination of women is found in St. Paul’s Epistle to the Galatians. Gal.3:28 “There is not among you Jew or Greek, there is not among you slave or free, there is not among you […]
The Ordination Rite
From the beginning of the Apostolic Church, the offices of diaconate, priesthood, and episcopate were conferred with special rites and ceremonies. The imposition of hands and prayer were always and universally employed and date from the first century (Acts 6:6; 13:3; 1 Tim. 4:14; 2 Tim. 1:6). During the present rite of ordination to the […]