Roman Catholic
Woman Priest?
The blame for women’s subservient role in the Church should squarely be put on male dominance in traditional Western societies. Men moulded theology, pastoral practice and hierarchical structures. Each of these defences has to yield before women can be ordained priests.
The vast majority of Roman Catholic theologians will agree with Karl Rahner that no valid dogmatic reasons can be found for denying the priesthood to women. There are pockets that resist the trend, such as the Communio group in Germany, to which Cardinal Ratzinger, the Prefect of the Vatican Congregation for Christian Doctrine also belongs. But these do not reflect the thinking of free academic theology in universities and seminaries. Indicative of the true trend is the increase of women studying theology (40 per cent in many theological faculties) and of women entering theological discussion on all levels.
The pastoral scene changes much more slowly. In many parts of the Catholic Church even the reforms of Vatican Il have hardly penetrated. The idea of having women celebrate Mass will then seem strange if not preposterous. But here also progress has been made. Women distribute communion in many churches. In some dioceses women pastoral workers practically run parishes, and preach on Sundays. Enquiries in a number of countries show that the faithful, if suitably prepared, would have no objection to receiving the sacraments from ordained women.
Bishops and priests generally view the ordination of women with amusement. There is no ill-will in this attitude; just lethargy and a failure to treat the question seriously. They will readily admit that women should play a more prominent role; and view this in bright romantic colours. “Thank God for pretty girls!” “The Church needs women’s tenderness and motherly care!” But lavishing such patronising compliments on women may, in fact, hide unwillingness to face the real issue: whether women are truly equal in Christ, capable as men are of exercising his saving power.
In the Catholic Church women will not be ordained priests in the immediate future. The hierarchical mood is to be cautious and to step on the brakes. But the groundswell of a new awareness backed by theology is irresistible. It will eventually win the day. History proves it.
JOHN WIJNGAARDS