Women Ordination in Roman Catholicism

[Brian Stoffregen]

This YouTube video gives the Roman Catholic explanation for not ordaining women.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=72BLZmT5Wbo


It has nothing to do with the passages about women being silent, subordinate, or not assuming authority.

[David Garner]

I wouldn't suggest this is THE Roman Catholic explanation, though I think it is a good one and one that squares roughly with our understanding as well.  There are things in there about the role of the diaconate and its development over time, as well as omissions such as the priest as an icon of Christ, that I would want to discuss.  And I also don't think the Scriptural admonitions about public teaching are not reasons simply because he did not discuss them.

In any event, our Roman Catholic friends can speak for themselves.  If anything, it seems to me the discussion is unlikely to bear fruit for two reasons:

1). Roman Catholics, as we do, have a respect for Holy Tradition that need not be justified by arguments from sola Scriptura; and

2). If one wishes to make an argument that because Roman Catholics do not use Scripture to justify their reasoning on this issue, therefore, Protestants should not either, that seems to be both backwards and self-refuting.  I doubt, for example, a similar argument would be made about the Episcopacy or ecclesiology.  It's too convenient and ignores that sola Scriptura is one of the main lines of division between Roman Catholics (and us) and Protestants.

[Brian Stoffregen]

I wouldn't suggest this is THE Roman Catholic explanation, though I think it is a good one and one that squares roughly with our understanding as well.  There are things in there about the role of the diaconate and its development over time, as well as omissions such as the priest as an icon of Christ, that I would want to discuss.  And I also don't think the Scriptural admonitions about public teaching are not reasons simply because he did not discuss them.

My impression is that he was limiting himself to official Roman Catholic documents to explain their reasoning.

In any event, our Roman Catholic friends can speak for themselves.  If anything, it seems to me the discussion is unlikely to bear fruit for two reasons:

1). Roman Catholics, as we do, have a respect for Holy Tradition that need not be justified by arguments from sola Scriptura; and

Respect and use of tradition has divided groups at least since the Pharisees (used oral tradition) and Sadducees (eschewed oral tradition - Torah alone) were divided. There are Christians today who are "back-to-the-Bible" believers who want nothing to do with tradition - even discounting the creeds. Others, like Lutherans accept some traditions, e.g., the creeds; but not others, e.g., the role of bishops and deacons.

2). If one wishes to make an argument that because Roman Catholics do not use Scripture to justify their reasoning on this issue, therefore, Protestants should not either, that seems to be both backwards and self-refuting.  I doubt, for example, a similar argument would be made about the Episcopacy or ecclesiology.  It's too convenient and ignores that sola Scriptura is one of the main lines of division between Roman Catholics (and us) and Protestants.

My point in posting this was to show how the arguments about male only clergy differ. Also, how objections to the ordination of women are presented. Other Protestants tend see the ordination of women as going against scriptures (basically the two passages about women being silent). They've often come up in this forum. RCC and Orthodox see it as going against tradition.

[RDPreus]

That Rome gives women responsibilities denied to them by the clear Scriptures (for example, as lectors in the Divine Service) explains why she won't appeal to God's written Word, but rather to church tradition, as grounds for denying the priesthood to women.

[Charles Austin]

But, Pastor Preus, your synod does not believe that scripture prohibits women lectors.

[RDPreus]

But, Pastor Preus, your synod does not believe that scripture prohibits women lectors.

Oh, dear!  Well, that settles it then!