ThereseMaria Posted February 1, 2014 Share Posted February 1, 2014 Ah, ok. I've personally never met anyone who voiced a concern over it, but it's always good to know that there are some people who have concerns with it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
An Historian Posted February 1, 2014 Share Posted February 1, 2014 Ah, ok. I've personally never met anyone who voiced a concern over it, but it's always good to know that there are some people who have concerns with it. Why would it be a good thing to know that there are some people out there dissenting from Church teaching and that have "concerns" about it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ice_nine Posted February 1, 2014 Share Posted February 1, 2014 Why would it be a good thing to know that there are some people out there dissenting from Church teaching and that have "concerns" about it? I'm assuming that it's so that people can "be ready to defend" teaching, so to speak, rather than thinking that everyone is on the same page. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HisChildForever Posted February 1, 2014 Share Posted February 1, 2014 Why would it be a good thing to know that there are some people out there dissenting from Church teaching and that have "concerns" about it? A Catholic can be confused over a teaching but still accept it. I don't think she was referring to Catholics who blatantly reject doctrine without caring to prayerfully understand it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sr. MMcM RSCJ Posted February 1, 2014 Share Posted February 1, 2014 ThereseMaria, I am genuinely surprised to read you never met any Catholic woman who has serious trouble with male ordination only in the Catholic Church. I, for one, know so many believing, practicing, faithful Catholic men and women of all ages who have serious concerns about and objections to this--and in different parts of the US and in the world. Moreover, I also know some women who know they have been called to the Catholic priesthood, whose call has been confirmed by the communities among whom they minister, who have completed seminary training, et cetera. I do not happen to be one of those women. "In my Father's house, there are many rooms. . . . " Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PhuturePriest Posted February 1, 2014 Share Posted February 1, 2014 (edited) ThereseMaria, I am genuinely surprised to read you never met any Catholic woman who has serious trouble with male ordination only in the Catholic Church. I, for one, know so many believing, practicing, faithful Catholic men and women of all ages who have serious concerns about and objections to this--and in different parts of the US and in the world. Moreover, I also know some women who know they have been called to the Catholic priesthood, whose call has been confirmed by the communities among whom they minister, who have completed seminary training, et cetera. I do not happen to be one of those women. "In my Father's house, there are many rooms. . . . " With all due respect, Sister, nobody can be called to something which is blatantly against Church teaching. To "ordain" a woman is to excommunicate her from the Church. God doesn't call anyone to that. Edited February 1, 2014 by FuturePriest387 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nihil Obstat Posted February 1, 2014 Share Posted February 1, 2014 Moreover, I also know some women who know they have been called to the Catholic priesthood, whose call has been confirmed by the communities among whom they minister, who have completed seminary training, et cetera. I do not happen to be one of those women. "In my Father's house, there are many rooms. . . . " Luckily they are completely wrong about being 'called' to the priesthood. There may be many rooms, but one of them is most certainly not for women priests. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThereseMaria Posted February 1, 2014 Share Posted February 1, 2014 I'm assuming that it's so that people can "be ready to defend" teaching, so to speak, rather than thinking that everyone is on the same page. ^That's what i meant by it. It's not a good thing to know that people have trouble with that teaching, but it's good to know that some people have that view, so that if I were to meet someone with that view, I wouldn't be caught off guard. Sorry, for the confusion, I probably could have worded that better! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Basilisa Marie Posted February 1, 2014 Share Posted February 1, 2014 Well, someone can certainly feel called to a certain vocation, but if it's not "confirmed" by the Church or religious community or they never find a spouse, then they aren't really called to that vocation, no matter how hard they feel it. It can be a really tough situation to be in, to feel like you're supposed to be doing something with your life but to have the Church say no. So on one hand I can sympathize with some of the women who may feel called to the priesthood. It's not just about a bunch of silly females trying to stir up trouble because they hate authority or whatever. It's about people trying to understand their relationship with God and their communities, and trying to figure out their place. A better theology of womanhood and manhood would certainly help in these situations, as well as good spiritual direction. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nihil Obstat Posted February 1, 2014 Share Posted February 1, 2014 (edited) Well, someone can certainly feel called to a certain vocation, but if it's not "confirmed" by the Church or religious community or they never find a spouse, then they aren't really called to that vocation, no matter how hard they feel it. It can be a really tough situation to be in, to feel like you're supposed to be doing something with your life but to have the Church say no. So on one hand I can sympathize with some of the women who may feel called to the priesthood. It's not just about a bunch of silly females trying to stir up trouble because they hate authority or whatever. It's about people trying to understand their relationship with God and their communities, and trying to figure out their place. A better theology of womanhood and manhood would certainly help in these situations, as well as good spiritual direction. Of course, one cannot truly be 'called' to something which for them is ontologically impossible. They may think they are, but for whatever reason, out of honesty or not, they are mistaken. Edited February 1, 2014 by Nihil Obstat Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Basilisa Marie Posted February 1, 2014 Share Posted February 1, 2014 Of course, one cannot truly be 'called' to something which for them is ontologically impossible. They may think they are, but for whatever reason, out of honesty or not, they are mistaken. Yeah, and my point is that we probably shouldn't treat them callously. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nihil Obstat Posted February 1, 2014 Share Posted February 1, 2014 Yeah, and my point is that we probably shouldn't treat them callously. Yeah, that is true. But, and I am sure you agree with me, we should also be careful not to treat these people in such a way that they might think that their delusions of a vocation to the priesthood are legitimate. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NotreDame Posted February 1, 2014 Share Posted February 1, 2014 (edited) First, Basilisa, you state your case very well on this thread. A good example of women feeling called to vocations they can't have is St Therese. The Little Flower said she felt called to be a missionary priest - she meant this quite literally, I believe - so it's not wrong or crazy for a woman to feel or think they are attracted to the priesthood on some level. That said, I get the "impression" that the LCWR crowd's motivations are more secular than spiritual. This is why I and others will bristle when they hear people talk about women in the priesthood. I think Basilisa's recommendation is the best way to balance between these two reactions... If someone feels conflicted then prayer, patience, and SD are the best solution. Edited February 1, 2014 by NotreDame Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NotreDame Posted February 1, 2014 Share Posted February 1, 2014 Yeah, that is true. But, and I am sure you agree with me, we should also be careful not to treat these people in such a way that they might think that their delusions of a vocation to the priesthood are legitimate. But maybe delusion is not the right word? Aren't we all called to participate in the priesthood of Christ in some way? I had a priest that always said that (he was old, so he basically gave the same sermon at every liturgy, which included that statement.) I would personally make a distinction between women that "feel called to the priesthood" and the LCWR types that might be out lobbying for women in the priesthood. Maybe it's natural for some women to go through a phase of discernment where they are not entirely clear on their calling. Maybe in the past that confusion would be easily remedied, but today with the NCReporter crowd lobbying for female priesthood, some of these girls might get confused. Which is another reason that people shouldn't be lobbying for these things in the way they are - subjects like this need to be treated more reverently than a secular subject would. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PhuturePriest Posted February 1, 2014 Share Posted February 1, 2014 First, Basilisa, you state your case very well on this thread. A good example of women feeling called to vocations they can't have is St Therese. The Little Flower said she felt called to be a missionary priest - she meant this quite literally, I believe - so it's not wrong or crazy for a woman to feel or think they are attracted to the priesthood on some level. That said, I get the "impression" that the LCWR crowd's motivations are more secular than spiritual. This is why I and others will bristle when they hear people talk about women in the priesthood. I think Basilisa's recommendation is the best way to balance between these two reactions... If someone feels conflicted then prayer, patience, and SD are the best solution. From what I understand, she didn't say she was "called", or that it was unjust that she couldn't. Rather, she was just stating her admiration for priests, and said that if she were a man, she would be one. I could be wrong, though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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