This past Saturday, the man who carries the title of Servus Servorum Dei, which in Latin is defined to mean the Servant of the Servants of God, Pope Benedict XVI, issued through the Vatican newspaper L'Osservatore Romano, a decree stating that the Catholic Church emphatically refuses to allow any bishop to ordain women as priests, and the penalty for such as action will result in the automatic and immediate excommunication of both the woman and the bishops from the Catholic Church. People who are excommunicated from the church are forbidden from receiving the sacraments and sharing in public acts of worship.
My question is why is it that the most influential man in this entire world, can make such a decree about the ordination of women to the priesthood, with a threat of immediate excommunication, yet many male priests continue to operate in their duties as priests even though they have been found guilty of preying on young boys within the church. Where is the justice in that? What kind of message is that sending not only the members of the Catholic Church, but also to the entire world who is watching? That women can't be priests, but it is alright for known pedophiles will go untouched, a woman can carry the Word of God in her stomach for nine months, but cannot carry the Word of God in her mouth? Again where is the justice in the church?
There is a wonderful text in the bible, Isaiah 59:14, which says that justice is turned back, and righteousness stands afar off; for the truth has stumbled in the public squares, and uprightness cannot enter. It would seem that the truth of the scriptures have failed to walk upright in the public as the Catholic Church stated that it cannot change the rules banning women from the priesthood because Christ only chose men as his apostles. Well if that's true, that this biblical truth is saying that Christ only wanted men to speak his word, then I would want the Pope to explain to me Acts 2:16-17, which quotes the words of the Prophet Joel by saying, and in the last days, I (God) will pour out my spirit upon ALL FLESH; your sons and daughters shall prophesy.
Now I really want to be clear about something; I am not writing to argue the validity as to whether women should be allowed to preach. I am not even here to express my feelings about the sinfulness of homosexuality. But what I am here to express is the apparent hypocrisy that the Catholic Church is portraying by saying it is a sin to have women as priests, but it is seemingly okay for a predator chasing after young boys to perform sexual acts on them, to which the church is eerily silent.
As a Pastor of a Baptist Church, I would surmise that it is acts such as these that have caused unsaved people to reject the church as a viable option to the ways of this world. It is the purpose of the church to change this incorrect view of what Jesus calls the church and establish a proper way of promoting justice based solely on the truths of scripture and not a warped view based upon our own human desires. As the Prophet Amos says in 5:24, let justice roll down like waters and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream (ESV).
5 comments:
I am Baptist. I attended a Catholic Elementary school for a short while before entering public school. I really do think that there is punishment for the child abuser Priest within their organization. That is an entirly different issue and I don't think should be compared with the refusal of Women Priest. I have NOT seen nor have had it throughly explained where God calls Women into "Preaching" ministry. I do not believe or embrace the idea. A woman should not have that kind of authority over man. As a mother I carried a Preacher for nine months. I don't feel that gives me the credentials to preach myself. I like Mary was simply a vessel used for that purpose only. It may have been our ONLY purpose for coming this way.
I don't think the Catholic church is saying it is OK for Priest to prey upon young boys. It is a sin just like homosexuality. But not allowing women to become Priest is not the same as some other out landish offenses. I commend them for this order.
Pastor Man, what a Sticky Wicket!
Stay with the "Church" and "Preach the Word!"
Good post brother.
Tony R.
It's good to see your writing, and witness the exposure of such profound words. Your writing deserves voice in these perilous times. Keep edifying the Kingdom of God, and destroying the works of our adversary! Catholics are not the only tradition in question, others are hiding under the "red carpet" as well.
Meaningfully,
Jacqueline T. Powell
There are so many things I can say to ditto what you have already said. These words are prolific and profound. I do think that anonymous is off point because, in a real sense, the two are legitimately compared because both are timely issues that have plagued the Catholic Church in recent years. The summary of your blog here is very clear--this is what can cause some who are unsaved to reject Christ and His church. Okay--there may be some 'secret discipline' going on for Pedophile Priests, but shouldn't there be some kind of strict, public and aggresive measures taken so that the world may see that the church will not allow boys to be violated? This is so confusing--we will excommunicate a Pastor if we 'think' he has taken 5 dollars from the church; but we allow a priest who molests boys to continue their duties? I suppose the implication is that our dollar is more important than our boys and their future. Go figure. By the way--I don't believe it is right for a preacher to steal money.
By the way Pastor Mann, to answer your question - in time, there are times there appears to be no justice in the church. From God's perspective, there IS and will be justice. (Deut. 32:35) Some may appear to get by; but they won't get away. There must always be a measure of justice and grace. But according to Galatians 6, there is a process and plan for restoration.
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