Welcome to Catholic Womens Ordination - Arguments against Ordination


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Against Women's Ordination

Some people do not believe that women should be ordained.

Arguments you might come across whilst discussing the merits of the ordination of women are shown opposite.

If you strongly disagree (or even agree) with these arguments - join the discussion forum and enjoy a conversation with others who have a strong interest in this area.

Jesus did not ordain women

He did not ordain men either! This came later in the Church's history.
Jesus called women as well as men to be his disciples. As the Pope's recent letter points out, Jesus went out of his way to include women among his disciples. The first apostle of all was the apostle to the Samaritans, the woman at the well. The first apostles of the Resurrection were Mary Magdalene and her friends. There were also many other apostles, women, appointed by the risen Christ.
(1 Corinthians 15:6)

Women cannot be an ikon or likeness of Christ

"Man and woman are both with one and the same dignity 'in the image of God'.  In their 'being man' and 'being woman' they reflect the Creator's goodness".
(Catechism of the Catholic Church section 369).
In Baptism men and women are equally baptised into Christ (Catechism of the Catholic Church 1267-1268).
In Holy Communion we feed on Christ in order to become 'ikons' of Christ and share his characteristics of love, compassion, personal concern, nurturing, wisdom and sacrifice.
If women are not to be ikons or representatives of Christ why are they admitted to Holy Communion?

Pope John Paul II stated the matter must not be discussed

In conscience, we believe that the issue must be examined. Cardinal Danielou wrote in Le Monde: "Canon law is a means, not an end", and so, "the law may be criticised when it does not achieve its object or when it leads away from it. It also means that the law should be revised according to new situations". The Pope in his recent letter writes of womanhood as being a prophetic ikon. Paul uses images of woman in childbirth (Galatians 4:19) and as nurse
(1 Thessalonians 2:7) to describe his ministry - a recognition that prophetic gifts are more often found among women than among men.

Tradition

The earliest traditions show that in New Testament times women were leaders of Christian communites (Romans 16:1, 12, 15, 1 Corinthians 16:19, Philippians 4:3-7).
This tradition was lost. Likewise in the past women have been great leaders, e.g. princesses as abbesses. These traditions evaporated. To consider women for priesthood is a recovery of these earlier traditions, and of the Scriptural ideal. In the past, one tradition in the Church, expressed by Aquinas, has been to consider women as defective human beings, and the idea of women priests as therefore unthinkable. However, to teach that women are equal but different, as the Pope now does, is in itself a break with an earlier world view, both secular and religious. Is it not illogical for him to consider women equal but not adequate for priesthood?