The following comes from a November 1 Catholic Herald article by Cindy Wooden:
The Catholic Church’s insistence that it cannot ordain women to the priesthood and episcopacy is a teaching likely to last forever, Pope Francis said.
After being hosted by the Lutheran Church of Sweden, which is led by Archbishop Antje Jackelen of Uppsala, the nation’s first woman primate, Pope Francis was asked on November 1 if the Catholic Church might one day have women priests and bishops.
As he has done in the past, the Pope responded that the question was settled in 1994 by St John Paul II, who taught that because Jesus chose only men as his apostles, the ordination of women in the Catholic Church is not possible.
He was asked, “Really? Never?” And he responded, “If one carefully reads the declaration of St John Paul, it goes in that direction, yes.”
Now some are sticking the word “likely” in there when St. Pope John Paul II said that the Church has no authority WHATSOEVER to ordain women as priest and that that is what is to be held by ALL the faithful.
And the problem with this conclusions is . . . [chirp, chirp, chirp]?
At least he respects infallible pronouncements, though he’ll proably use this to push for deaconesses
What? Where are all the posts from the conservative CINO’s praising Pope Francis for articulating this teaching. Note all right wing critics of the current Pope: he has upheld marriage as a sacrament between a man and a woman, he has permitted the continued celebration of the EO form of the Mass and he has suppprted Humane Vitae. All of the conservative critics’ dire predictions are WRONG! God Bless Pope Francis!
Very true. Where are the Holy Father’s detractors? Why don’t they come and commend his words for a change. They only see the negative in this man, not the good words he says in his homilies and messages.
harold, i find it reassuring that francis agreed that this is a ‘case-closed’ issue. but praising him for doing his job and agreeing with the magisterium is akin to praising the newest surgeon general for agreeing that smoking is harmful. we just expect the top people in their fields to carry on with their sciences. i wonder if in some way this was an answer to prayer .
Yes Harold, you are a true disciple of Christ as exemplified in your charitable comment. Thank you so much for assuming the best and doubting the worst in your fellow Catholics.
Pope Francis also needs to say “NO” to women deaconesses! I will not go to any Mass where they might be, if he does have them! I also wish he would end the lay Extraordinary Eucharistic Ministry program, at Novus Ordo Masses, except for maybe a couple of very serious Catholic laymen, who work closely with the priest, and lead holy lives– or else, a very good nun in her habit. And mostly, I wish the altar belonged to the priest, once again! No more lay people dominating the altar, for the Novus Ordo Masses! My favorite Mass, however, will always be the old Latin Mass, with altar boys.
The holiness of our churches, and of our altars, and of the Mass, needs to be completely returned! No more laymen dominating the Church– and no ordained women “deaconesses!” That is my opinion! And no more worldliness, or secularism! I would love to see our Church be a place that helps us to truly become holy, and prepare for Heaven!