Expert: Sal - 1/1/2006

Question
Do you think it is likely that the Roman Catholic Church will ever ordain women priests?  If so,which factor(s) do you think is most likely to influence the Catholic Church in ordaining women priests- possibly the change of pope, the changing role of women in society, female ministers in other Christian churches?
Do you personally think that women should be ordained as priests in the Catholic Church?
I would be very grateful to know any opinions you hold on this particular issue and look forward to hearing from you soon.  
Sophie

Answer
Dear Sophie:

The Catholic Church will never ordain women to the priesthood. It is one of the infallible teachings of the Church that only men may be ordained to the priesthood. Throughout Church history the possible ordination of women has been open to debate. Then on May 22, 1994, Pope John Paul II issued the encyclical “Ordinatio Sacerdotalis”. In it the Pope first summed up the current opinion concerning the possibility of women's ordination. “…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 merely disciplinary force.” Then he gave his answer to this situation. “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. LK 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” (no. 4).

The very strong language used by the Pope prompted many bishops to wonder if this teaching was now an infallible teaching of the Catholic Church. This led some bishops to inquire of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith (CDF) if this declaration of John Paul II in this encyclical was indeed infallible. On October 28, 1995, the CDF headed by Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger, now Pope Benedict XVI, responded in the affirmative.

In order for a papal statement to be declared infallible it must meet certain criteria. The Pope must be speaking on a matter of grave importance concerning faith or morals (“regarding a matter of great importance”). He must be speaking in his capacity as head of the Church (“in virtue of my ministry of confirming the brethren”). He must be making a definitive pronouncement on the subject (“that all doubt may be removed” & “definitively held”). Finally, he must be speaking to the entire Church (“held by all the Church's faithful”). One can see why the CDF ruled the Pope's teaching on ordination to be infallible.

Thanks for the question. If you would like me to briefly relate the reasons why the Catholic Church believes ordination to be open only to men let me know and I will gladly relate this to you. If I can be of further help just let me know.

Have a happy & healthy New Year!
Sal