For the second time in four days, the Los Angeles
Times has reported about the illicit and invalid "ordination" of
women who call themselves Catholic. The latest effort is by Times
staffer Robin Fields,
"Female Priest Defies the Catholic Church" (Monday, August 14,
2006). Fields profiled
Jane Via, of San Diego, one of several bogus "priests" who have
been falsely "ordained" and recently presided over a "Mass." Far from
being a balanced piece, the article directly quoted four
vocal supporters of Via (including Via herself) and not one
dissenting voice of her actions. Balanced reporting at the Times?
Not even close.
In addition, Fields appears to have some problems reporting on the
facts. On the issue of female ordination, she writes, "The U.S.
Conference of Catholic Bishops has not taken a formal position on the
issue." Uh-oh. I'm afraid the Times'
"historical ignorance" and
"theological naiveté" has reared its ugly head again.
In 1994, Pope John Paul II issued Ordinatio Sacerdotalis, in
which he formally declared that the Church cannot
ordain women. (Emphasis mine:)
"Although the teaching that priestly ordination is to be reserved
to men alone has been preserved by the constant and universal
tradition of the Church and firmly taught by the magisterium in its
more recent documents, at the present time in some places it is
nonetheless considered still open to debate, or the Church’s
judgment that women are not to be admitted to ordination is
considered to have a merely disciplinary force. Wherefore, in
order that all doubt may be removed regarding a matter of great
importance, a matter which pertains to the Church’s divine
constitution itself, in virtue of my ministry of confirming the
brethren (cf. Luke 22:32) I declare that the Church has no
authority whatsoever to confer priestly ordination on women and that
this judgment is to be definitively held by all the Church’s
faithful."
Quite simply, the very nature of the Church and its sacraments forbid
the Church from allowing women to be ordained. (Read
Ordinatio Sacerdotalis here.)
This may come as news to Ms. Fields, but the U.S. Conference of
Catholic Bishops (USCCB) is in full communion with the Vatican and the
Catholic Church. To write that the USCCB "has not taken a formal
position on the issue" displays an ignorance of how the Catholic Church
functions. In addition, not long after John Paul II's letter, the USCCB
released
"Strengthening the Bonds of Peace: A Pastoral Reflection on Women in the
Church and in Society." The letter began (emphasis mine),
"Earlier this year the Holy Father issued the apostolic letter,
Ordinatio Sacerdotalis, reaffirming the teaching and practice
that priestly ordination is restricted to men. We bishops
recognize this clear reaffirmation of Catholic teaching as a
pastoral service to the whole Church, and we accept that it be
definitively held by all the faithful."
No matter how the Church functions, that might sound like a
"formal position" to a lot of people.
Generally, those who question or approve of ordination of women are
completely unaware of the theology and history that make such an event
impossible. Here are a couple of great, simple readings that may shed
some light on the issue for many:
"Women Priests: No Chance," By Joanna Bogle (This Rock
magazine, October 1997) ...
"Women and the Priesthood" (Catholic.com) ...