In response to Moira Gray, who believes "the time is long overdue for women to be priests in the Church and not just be relegated to playing a subservient role" (Letters, March 20), it is often complained the Catholic Church is authoritarian and dictatorial in exercise of power.
However, on the question of female ordination, the Church lacks the authority to ordain women.
In declaring it does not possess the authority to ordain women, the Catholic Church is convinced it is being faithful to what it has received from Christ. The sacraments, including Holy Orders on the priesthood, are not the result of ecclesiastical or human invention, but given to the Church by Christ himself.
The Church regards the sacraments as part of what is called the "deposit" of faith, that which is given to the Church by Christ and handed down by the authority of the apostles through the generations. The sacraments are gifts the church has received and must guard.
Ordination is reserved to men because the church is bound to follow what Christ himself did: he chose only men as apostles. The Church therefore cannot escape or circumvent certain historical facts: it cannot re-invent itself or re-fashion the heart of its belief in order to keep in step with the times. The Church cannot determine the recipients of priestly ordination in a manner that contradicts the actions of Christ himself, its originator.
Significantly, the priesthood in discussions concerning female ordination is frequently considered in terms of "leadership" and "power"; the Church's inability to ordain women, it is alleged, excludes them from leadership roles and influence in the church. The danger in this is the narrow focus on only one aspect of the priestly role, and not its most important aspect.
A priest shares with all the baptised a role that our Lord makes clear in the gospels should characterise all Christians: it is his own role as a servant. We are all to be like him, servants, feet-washers, ministering to one another. We are to be servants of one another, doing without calculation or safeguards to our dignity that which is needed. This is to render the service Christ has rendered us; this is the priesthood of all believers, in which all the baptised participate.
Martin Conroy,
Daisy Cottage,
Oldhamstocks,
East Lothian.
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