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Re: Calling women in the priesthood a Christological heresy is ridiculous, Handel Send a noteboard - 28/10/2009 01:26:24 AM
Reserve the claim of heresy for real issues of heresy not crises of tradition. Calling the issue a heresy is just overboard.


The issue of women's "ordination" is not a mere crisis of tradition. The priesthood is not denied women because they are somehow less than men, but because it is simply not possible to ordain women. The priest is representative of Christ, who is perfect Man (i.e. human) concerning his flesh and perfect God as touching his Divinity yet also perfectly united just as the Trinity is also One God. Not only was Christ perfect Man, but he was also man (male). Hence, the priest, as representing Christ can only be male. This is an extreme simplification (and I am admittedly not a theologian and probably fall short of a good explanation) but is nevertheless the constant practice and teaching of the Church from the time of the Apostles.

If it were possible for women to be priests, Mary, as the Mother of God (Theotokos = God-bearer; she bore Christ who is God in her womb) would have had more right than any woman in history to the priesthood, but she was not (and I doubt it was something she was offered and turned down).

Christ being male, and the priest as representative of Christ, Holy Orders can only be conferred on males called to the priestly vocation. That does not mean that women are somehow less, just that they have a different vocation than men. Calling the "ordination" of women a Christological heresy is perfectly reasonable; it is not my opinion, but the opinion of the Catholic Church (Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, and Anglican Catholic).
This message last edited by Handel on 28/10/2009 at 01:29:26 AM
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Catholic Church reaccepting Anglicans allowing Anglicans to remain Anglicans in most things but name - 25/10/2009 11:15:50 PM 1018 Views
As you noted in your post, it's nothing new. And it's not likely to lead to much. - 26/10/2009 03:35:18 AM 677 Views
I don't know about that, some have already left the communion, and you may have a schism - 26/10/2009 04:27:01 AM 631 Views
As I said, Anglicans have a strong identity. - 26/10/2009 06:29:38 AM 603 Views
definitly agree about the episcoplians - 26/10/2009 01:14:53 PM 636 Views
Wouldn't you say not believing in transubstantiation is an important theological difference? - 26/10/2009 08:39:00 AM 603 Views
To the common man no, it isn't a major difference - 26/10/2009 12:07:25 PM 653 Views
Re: To the common man no, it isn't a major difference - 26/10/2009 04:55:51 PM 906 Views
I was going to mention that... - 26/10/2009 01:08:09 PM 623 Views
It should be noted - 26/10/2009 05:02:23 PM 618 Views
Catholicism = no ordination of women? - 26/10/2009 06:31:44 PM 635 Views
Re: Catholicism = no ordination of women? - 26/10/2009 07:40:45 PM 708 Views
Ah. You're an Anglo-Catholic, then? - 26/10/2009 09:41:03 PM 638 Views
I prefer Anglican Catholic - 26/10/2009 11:41:12 PM 632 Views
what about the congregations that have a woman priest? - 27/10/2009 03:56:45 PM 759 Views
Re: what about the congregations that have a woman priest? - 27/10/2009 04:37:16 PM 639 Views
Calling women in the priesthood a Christological heresy is ridiculous, - 27/10/2009 10:31:02 PM 635 Views
Re: Calling women in the priesthood a Christological heresy is ridiculous, - 28/10/2009 01:26:24 AM 683 Views
So in sum your response is tradition - 28/10/2009 02:50:06 AM 636 Views
Not tradition, but Tradition (capital) - 28/10/2009 04:15:40 PM 858 Views
Yes the priest class of both the old testatment and new testatment has always been male - 28/10/2009 10:22:28 PM 739 Views
Re: Yes the priest class of both the old testatment and new testatment has always been male - 29/10/2009 09:02:36 PM 841 Views
Hun I am a former catholic - 29/10/2009 09:33:45 PM 628 Views
I am a former protestant - 30/10/2009 12:12:57 AM 831 Views

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