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| Read about
the theological history of the expression ‘acting in the person of Christ’; and about the ancient biology that made the Fathers and medieval theologians think women cannot act in the person of Christ. |
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| The priest
acts "in the person of Christ". Since Christ was a man, only a male priest can
signify Christ at the Eucharist. Rome's texts in full! |
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The
quality signified by the priest is not Christ's maleness, but his
role as mediator. This can and should be
signified also by women priests. 1. because women are equal in Christ; 2. women too bear Christ’s image; 3. women already act as ‘another Christ’ as ministers of baptism and marriage; 4. women reflect better Christ’s feminine traits 5. women too can represent Christ’s love which is the essence of his priesthood. See also the defective theology of Thomas Aquinas in this matter. |
| In the
symbolism of salvation Christ is the Bridegroom and the Church is his Bride. A
man should therefore represent Christ in the priestly ministry. Rome's texts in full! The priest’s acting in the name of the Church is of less importance. Rome's texts in full! |
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The image
of a nuptial mystery does not apply to the priestly ministry. Where allusions
are made to it in the liturgy, the symbolism is
ambivalent, since all Christians represent both the Groom and the
Bride. Moreover, at the Eucharist the priest acts not only "in the person of Christ", but also "in the person of the Church". Read also:
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| Human
rights, such as equal rights for women, do not apply in the context of the
ministries. Rome's texts in full! Women who believe to have a priestly vocation are not guided by the Spirit. For only the Church controls who is called and who is not. Rome's texts in full! |
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Though no
individual has a right to be ordained, excluding a whole class of baptised
persons from the priestly ministry constitutes a question of real
discrimination, especially since there are
no valid arguments from Scripture and Tradition. 6. The fact that other Christian Churches ordain women, as well as the fact that some Catholic women feel called to the priestly ministry are clear signs of the Holy Spirit which the Church may not ignore. Read also: * ‘Equal but different?’ by Ida Raming; ‘On not Looking like Christ ...’ by Marcella M Althaus-Reid. |
| Conclusion: There are no valid theological arguments barring women from ordination. |
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Rome's Theological
Arguments 
Counter
Theological Arguments 