why it matters

Removing the barriers to God's incarnational initiative

Catholic symbols help make us present to God so that we can receive the gifts that God is wants to give us. Because God is incarnational, God takes advantage of the opening that our faith symbols create to come through and touch us, heal us and guide us. Because the Church restricts the priest symbol to the male form alone, it prevents the Body of Christ from experiencing the full range of encounter that God desires. This contracted encounter produces a misunderstanding of who God is, what God desires, and how God is calling humans into relationship with God and with one another. ​Naturally, this misunderstanding leads to oppression of women in and beyond the Church. To put it simply, a lopsided priest symbol facilitates lopsided encounter with the living God. This lopsided encounter leads to a lopsided world where women can only be understood as a second order of creation that is inferior by nature and, therefore, worthy of subjugation. Until women are fully participating in the symbolic life of the Church, we will not be able to better understand God's nature and God's desires for the world. 

proper discernment

Excluding a particular group of people from leadership on this or that basis significantly hinders the Church’s ability to discern and receive God's self-communication and gifts. The natural outcome of improper discernment is oppression. By welcoming women into full participation in the Church, the Church can better discern the ongoing invitations from God. We will gain a more full understanding of what it means to be human, how to be in relationship with one another, and what it means to be human stewards of creation.​

better formation

A Roman Catholic Church with the full participation of women will provide far healthier formation for Catholics. The Church is currently forming 1.4 billion Catholics in an erroneous theology of the human person that oppresses girls and women, and creates a world in opposition to God's desires of flourishing. Imagine, instead, a Church where women and girls are embraced as fully human, where their gifts are fully welcomed at every level, and where all people-- especially men and boys--are taught to value women and girls as true peers and partners in the co-creation of life with God. 

effective in mission

The Roman Catholic Church is growing fastest in Africa, India and other parts of Asia. If women can be priests, then women can be ordained as bishops. Imagine this global church with its vast resources being co-led by African women, Indian women, Asian women. These leaders will bring critical perspectives, produce much-needed theology, and likely re-order priorities, which will help the Church be more effective in mission at every level. This Church will also be far better positioned to discern how to make reparations for it's ungodly participation in slavery and colonization.

resources

watch the 2023 #Godsaysnow talk

This talk deconstructs the Church's arguments of exclusion, exploring scripture, tradition and discernment. 

watch the bbc documentary

This short documentary captures the ordination of Father Anne and follows the story of Rev. Olga Alvarez in Colombia.

EDUCATE YOURSELF

There are many books by reputable Roman Catholic scholars on this subject. Here are several to begin your education.