Jonathan, I have already addressed two of the arguments you mentioned, the second and third ones you list, dealing with the natural skills of women. Certainly, as I already said, if we are looking at the priesthood solely as pastoral ministry, women are a great fit. And, as I also already said, for Protestant communities, women can make great pastors because theirs is not a sacramental/mystical role but simply one of leading worship, preaching, teaching on the Sacred Scriptures, etc.

In addition, I agree that St. Paul’s comments about women covering their heads and women speaking in the assembly are culturally conditioned; he seems to be speaking in those instances not from the New Law of freedom but from practices appropriate for his time.

I don’t think, however, and I am speaking with the Church here, that, by disregarding his statements that are culturally conditioned, we end up with women as priests. We don’t. We end up with women in lots of ministry positions and teaching positions and leadership positions, as is certainly the case in the Church today. Goodness, sometimes I look at the altar during Mass and wish that more men were involved; we have female lectors and Extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion and cantors and acolytes. Sometimes, our Catholic parishes feel unbalanced in their ministry to and from women. It almost feels uber-estrogen sometimes, and I long for a bit more emphasis on where men belong and how men fit in parish life.

What I am about to get to in full, now that I have noted a few common objections in my past two posts, is why the ministerial priesthood in the Catholic Church is one for which men are only suited. Please stick with me.

And, Rachel, absolutely. I am in no way meaning to denigrate the priesthood of believers in which women share. Certainly, we live daily the words of Christ, “This is my body, given up for you.” The reason I am focusing solely on the sacramental priesthood of the Catholic Church, however, is because that was the issue raised by Devin last week and questioned by a few readers. Yes, we could certainly write books and books about the “sacramental” life in the home that is fostered and initiated by women; that is emphasized beautifully in “Familiaris Consortio”. But, again, that’s not the focus of these posts.

I understand your last two posts, but the arguments you have been arguing against: arguments based on entitlement, equal rights, equal work, etc are arguments I have heard in Christian settings. I’ve heard these arguments outside Christian circles pointing at how corrupt the Church is, but I’ve really not heard them from the inside.

The arguments I have heard a lot more often are along these lines:

* Paul’s arguments in the Bible against women as teachers made sense in the old times because women were not respected like they are today. Allowing women to preach could have damaged Christianity’s position in a male dominated society. But Paul’s words don’t apply today, because we don’ have the same attitude towards women today.

* Women are such great, natural leaders/communicators/teachers/counselors. We especially need them today as priests and pastors.

* Some who have all these skills and feel a calling to serve in the Church should have the role that best fits their skills. Just as with men, sometimes that role is as pastor.

* Now that some “ecclesial communities” are ordaining women, we know that their work has been extremely fruitful in terms of calling people to Christ, etc. God is obviously working through these women and not making them fruitless because of their disobedience.

* Churches that govern themselves exclusively with men are missing out on a critical perspective both in practical discussion (women’s superior ability to communicate) and in the unique way women discern God’s word and will. This is especially needed in the Catholic church where bishops are not married.

etc. – these are the arguments I hear.