Has the Church never ordained women?

Has the Church never
ordained women?

“From the earliest centuries on, until our own time, the constant practice of the Church has been not to ordain women to the priesthood.”

Inter Insigniores § 6-8, 23

Congregation for Doctrine
in Rome

“Yes, women did perform some ministries in the Early Church, but such ministries of women had no relation to the sacramental priesthood.”

Commentary on Inter Insigniores § 57, 71-77.

Apart from some exceptions, women have not been ordained priests. OK!

But this happened because of a threefold prejudice that made the exclusion invalid.

Women were judged to be:
* inferior by nature and by law;
* in a state of punishment for sin;
* ritually unclean!

Study the facts, please!

In spite of cultural prejudice, the faithful remained aware throughout the centuries that men and women are equal in Christ. They knew, in their heart of hearts, that women could be priests. We call this latent tradition

Some examples of this latent tradition are:
* the extremely strong devotion to Mary as priest;
* the devotion to Mary Magdalen who was seen as a woman minister.

‘Le sacerdoce de la Vierge’ (close up), early 15th century, school of Amiens, France.

Last not least, for nine centuries the Church has actually admitted women to Holy Orders when she ordained them to be deacons

The rite of ordination, with the imposition of the right hand and invocation of the Holy Spirit, was the same for women and for men.

Women too received a full sacramental diaconate.

Therefore, tradition cannot be used as a valid reason to exclude women from the priestly ministry.

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Women Deacon Texts
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Do you believe strongly in the case of women? Have you carried responsibility? Do you know how to deal with people and have good communication skills?

Then, please, click here to apply

Has the Church never
ordained women?

We are looking for (voluntary?) full-time or part-time staff

Do you believe strongly in the case of women? Have you carried responsibility? Do you know how to deal with people and have good communication skills?

We are looking for (voluntary?) full-time or part-time staff

Do you believe strongly in the case of women? Have you carried responsibility? Do you know how to deal with people and have good communication skills?

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