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  • Posted Dec. 20, 2012 11:25 a.m.
  • God May Be a Woman


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            (The second installment in a pro-con project for Composition Class)


             One of the hottest controversies in the Roman Catholic church today is the acceptance or non acceptance as the case may be of women becoming ordained priests.  In the history of the church, men have been superior to women in roles of 
    leadership, speci?cally priests, bishops, cardinals and of course the pope.  However on 
    other levels the Roman Catholic church has changed with the times. The church's 
    biggest argument against ordaining women is the biblical standpoint.  Even though the 
    church leaders believe they have a valid point to exclude women from ordination into 
    the priesthood, in today's world equality should be considered because women are 
    equal to men and the church should allow for this inevitable change.
         Biblically men are superior to women.  God created man and from man came 
    woman.  God obviously thought women to be the lesser of the two.  God chose to send 
    his son, not a daughter,  to live and teach on earth when trying to save the Christian 
    souls.  And of course Jesus chose 12 male apostles to become his followers; leaving 
    these male followers to teach the news of God long after Jesus was gone from earth.
         Although it is true the leaders of the church have always been men, times have 
    changed and so must the church.  The church in fact has had strong female leadership 
    starting with the mother of Jesus.  Mary not only gave birth to Jesus but stood ?rm and 
    strong behind him.  Obviously God felt Mary was deserving of this important role.  She 
    lead by example in a time when women were not respected as much as men.  Her 
    strength of character shows what women are capable of doing.  She is revered by the Catholic church.  Unlike other denominations, Mary is prayed to and is used as a 
    mediator between the Catholics and God.  Such importance is given to a woman!
         In later times Mother Theresa of Calcutta was canonized in an unusual short period 
    of time after her death.  This honor was given to a truly remarkable woman but more 
    accurately a truly remarkable leader.  She was able to lead a huge number of men and 
    women to recognize the need for spiritual growth among the poor.  These followers 
    looked up to her with honor and respect and were able to pass their faith on to 
    thousands of people.  Much like Jesus administering to the leopards, Mother Theresa 
    walked that same path.
         With these examples in mind, it is not hard to understand the reason for the 
    organizations that have been formed in the states today.  Roman Catholic 
    Womenpriests, and Women's Ordination Worldwide are just a couple of examples of 
    organizations ordaining worthy women into the priesthood.  Many of these organizations 
    have the backing of ordained male priests.  However, few male priests are open about 
    their help for fear of excommunication.  These women priest exemplify the same 
    strength of faith and leadership of any male priest and deserve the chance to follow 
    their calling.
         As we as Catholics continue in our church today, we must learn from our past and 
    move forward with changes.  The constant and ever-growing problem of the shortage of 
    priests, should be reason enough for allowing women to be ordained.  Because of these 
    shortages, churches are not only closing but unfortunately are being torn down.  With 
    this action, communities are being destroyed.  Women priests would let communities thrive and prosper. The closing of churches results in the loss of practicing Catholics 
    who refuse to attend church in another town.  Women priest is the logical answer.
         Changes in the Catholic church have been successfully happening for a long time.  
    Vatican II, the change from Latin masses to English was a major but necessary change.  
    It was considered very controversial at the time, but looking back, a change that was for 
    the better.  Allowing girls to serve mass offended some Catholics at the time of 
    conception, but now is looked upon as necessary and normal.  Therefore changes that 
    seem unfathomable now will not be 10 years down the road.  So the answer is easy.  
    Women should be allowed to be priests.  Not only because it would alleviate a lot of the 
    problems with the church, but because it is the right thing to do.  Women have proven to 
    be equal to men and deserve this chance.
         When a church the size of the Roman Catholic church, decides to stop growing and 
    changing, troubles will follow.  We are there.  The change has to happen and it must 
    happen soon.  The reasons against de?nitely do not out way the necessary need for this 
    inevitable change.  The church has already proven she can survive change.  So letting 
    quali?ed women answer their call is a must for the church to maintain its powerful 
    reputation.  Women are equally as quali?ed as men and who knows God my have been 
    the spiritual mother of Jesus.  Yes, that would make God a woman!

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