A good number of Catholics have never heard about Women’s past history in our Church, so many new and perplexing questions come to mind. Unfortunately, there are no forthcoming answers from the Church hierarchy.
The Pink Elephant in the Catholic Church
Women Priests, are the “Pink Elephant,” hiding within our Church’s past history is slowly making its actual presence known. Not from the help of our Church hierarchy but rather from actual research done in this area of study by both men and women. You might be thinking since there is no evidence in the Bible about Women Priests, how can this claim be substantiated? The historical research in this area encompasses some of the following areas: Archaeology, a scientific study focusing in on artifacts and monuments, Epigraphy, study’s the meaning of ancient inscriptions, along with Papyrological, concerning studying the Papyrus Manuscripts.
The Mindset before World War II.
Before World War II, no one would have thought of, or possibly conceived of, the reality of women working, in all places but a factory. World War II, certainly brought about such a need. The mindset of that period simply assumed that this never could happen because women did not possess the knowledge to learn, let alone, learning specific skills for a job. These skills are definitely only for men to do. The above earthly scenario is eerily familiar with the religious hierarchy’s views against Women Priests, spanning centuries up to our present day time. The hierarchy will say that only men are allowed to be priests, not women. As World WarII, necessitated the need of women to fill factory jobs, left vacant while their husbands were serving their country, what could ever necessitate the need to have women priests in our Church again today?
The Priest Shortage Avalanche
Although World War II, is not present here, there is in every sense another type of battle which has and continues to wreak havoc, within the walls of our Catholic Church. The continuing priest shortage is behind the deluge of Catholic Church Closings affecting your Liturgy of the Eucharist as well. This liturgy is being replaced with a Communion Service instead.
With the onset of former parishes being merged into one Parish, along with the availability of just one priest, many times, not all the requirements for the Last Rites, can possibly be taken care of. The hierarchy of our Church was definitely aware of this crisis.
Basically, ignoring it until they finally had to do something affecting of all things the very Liturgy of the Eucharist, along with so many local Church Parishes closing. One thing is for sure, the hierarchy’s complete inertia on doing nothing until they had to do something is in no way reflective of Jesus’ own take-charge action of actually doing something to remedy a problem rather than looking the other way.
Margaret Mary O’Connor has a Bachelor of Science Degree from the University of Buffalo, and a Master of Arts in Pastoral Ministry from Christ the King Seminary, in East Aurora, NY.
She is a former Chaplain and currently is a Eucharistic Minister at Our Lady of Charity Parish in Buffalo, NY. She literally walks the walk, on picket lines to help keep the issues of Women’s Ordination and Church Accountability on the Priest Sexual Abuse Issue, at the forefront of any Catholic’s attention.
As a fellow member of the Laity, herself she believes any Catholic, deserves at minimal at least the truth from Rome, as opposed to the continual out right deception they are receiving. She also is a member of Call to Action, Future Church, Roman Catholic Women Priests, Women’s Ordination Conference, and SNAP, (Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests.) Buffalo Central Terminal, Restoration, Preservation Buffalo Niagara, and Western New York Land Conservancy. Margaret Mary is the recipient of the Special Award for Achievement from the Dale Carnegie Public Speaking Course. She also enjoys Gardening, Pilates and reading Mystery books.
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