Summary

Summary of the two positions

Rome's Arguments Throughout, I use the term Rome to indicate both the Sacred Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith and the Holy Father.		Counter Arguments
Scripture		Scripture
* Jesus Christ set a permanent norm by omitting women from the apostolic team. * Paul excluded women from teaching and presiding in the Christian assembly.		* Because of the need of the moment Christ did not choose a woman. But he made women, in principle, equal partners in his priesthood. * Paul's prohibitions concern only local communities. He taught the equality of women in Christ.

Tradition		Tradition
Faithful to an unbroken tradition, the Church has never felt that priestly ordination can be conferred upon women.		Women were not ordained because of wide-spread social and religious prejudices against women.

Theology		Theology
Only male priests can adequately represent Christ who was a man.		Christ is not adequately represented in his priesthood by male priests alone.

Authority		Authority
The Church cannot extend the priesthood to women.		The Church has the power to ordain women.

For related online Libraries see:
The ORDINATION OF WOMEN in the Catholic Church	Catherine of Siena VIRTUAL COLLEGE
THE BODY IS SACRED	MYSTERY AND BEYOND

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Summary of the two positions

Rome's Arguments

Counter Arguments