Catholic activist group looks to change doctrine

[struggle4progress]

Three women joined the growing community of Roman Catholic Womenpriests yesterday at a sweltering Back Bay church, absorbing excommunication in a controversial ordination ceremony.

The trio unite with a group of nearly 30 other American women ordained as priests by an activist group challenging the faith’s long-standing traditions of having only male priests. The Vatican has deemed the act illegal and the Boston Archdiocese has issued warnings to those involved in such ceremonies.

Inside the Church of the Covenant on Newbury Street — which has a female pastor — they were welcomed with open arms as family and friends told Bishops Dana Reynolds and Dr. Ida Raming why their loved ones should be accepted as leaders of the faith ...

http://www.metrobostonnews.com/us/article/2008/07/21/01/1731-72/index.xml


Women Ordained As Catholic Priests In Boston
Arch Diocese Says Women Are 'Excommunicating Themselves'
POSTED: 8:16 pm EDT July 20, 2008
UPDATED: 9:00 pm EDT July 20, 2008

BOSTON -- ...

"Excommunication or not, I will still be a validly ordained priest and still will be able to serve the people of God," said Gabriella Velardi Ward, 61, a Staten Island architect and mother of two, before the ceremony.

Also a grandmother of three, Ward said she had wanted to be a priest ever since she was 5 years old and once considered becoming a nun, but felt the priesthood was her true calling because she wanted to be able to celebrate the sacraments.

She was joined by Gloria Carpeneto, of Baltimore, and Judy Lee, of Florida. Mary Ann McCarthy Schoettly, of Newton, N.J., was ordained as a deacon.

The Vatican, however, said the ordinations would be illegal and the Boston Archdiocese sent out an e-mail to all priests saying that women who try to receive sacred orders and priests who try to confer them are automatically separating themselves from the church ...

http://www.thebostonchannel.com/asseenon5/16937943/detail.html

[Posteritatis]

1. What's the status of these people, theologically?

I understand the excommunicated aspect, but does that affect other things? Obviously they wouldn't be allowed to receive Communion, but would the larger church still recognize it if they gave Communion to their parishoners? Excommunication doesn't ban someone from physically attending services, but 'just' means they can't get the sin tank drained as necessary, at least as far as I understand it.

I'm just curious as to whether any consequences would befall the people who attended services given by the women priests or those who ordained them. I was under the impression that there wouldn't be, but I lapsed when I was like four so I don't know.

[rug]

4. Per Catholic theology, their ordination is not only illicit but it is invalid.

"1577 "Only a baptized man (vir) validly receives sacred ordination." The Lord Jesus chose men (viri) to form the college of the twelve apostles, and the apostles did the same when they chose collaborators to succeed them in their ministry. The college of bishops, with whom the priests are united in the priesthood, makes the college of the twelve an ever-present and ever-active reality until Christ's return. The Church recognizes herself to be bound by this choice made by the Lord himself. For this reason the ordination of women is not possible."

- Catechism of the Catholic Church. Scriptural authority is offered in the comments on that paragraph.

Therefore, their Masses would likewise be invalid and anyone receiving Communion from them would not be receiving a valid Communion.

They are free to return to the Catholic Church and its sacraments if they go through the sacrament of Reconciliation.

I thought it would be useful to place some information in this thread before the snark attack.

[The_Casual_Observer]

2. They would be far better off taking their energy & good faith & starting

their own new church, instead of appealing to that sick corrupt dead-hearted bunch of criminals.

[eleny]

3. "Boston Archdiocese sent out an e-mail" - What, no quill pen?

[knitter4democracy]

5. In the order of Sts. Lydia, Thecla, and Photini.

It's good to see, and I hope they aren't hurt in doing this. I will pray for them, as they are following God's heart and Church history.