Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rpi!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!uwm.edu!rutgers!aramis.rutgers.edu!athos.rutgers.edu!christian From: vancleef@nas.nasa.gov (Robert E. Van Cleef) Newsgroups: soc.religion.christian Subject: Re: ambitious women may approach the altar now ... Message-ID: Date: 2 Jun 91 05:00:55 GMT Sender: hedrick@athos.rutgers.edu Organization: NASA/Ames Research Center Lines: 46 Approved: christian@aramis.rutgers.edu In article , tblake@bingvaxu.cc.binghamton.edu (Thomas Blake) writes: |> In article jhpb@garage.att.com (Joseph H Buehler) writes: |> >It is true that there is no exercise of the extraordinary infallible |> >magisterium on the subject of women's ordination. This does not mean |> >that the Pope can reverse the present custom at a moment's notice, |> >however. There is also ordinary infallibility to be considered. It is |> >a fact that women have *never* been allowed to be ordained in the |> >Roman Catholic Church. This is of moment in Catholic theology. Whether |> >it can be changed depends on why the traditional practice is what it is. |> |> The Roman Catholic Church can be full of surprises; I was present on Pentacost Sunday, in 1975, at the closing liturgy of the International Conference on the Catholic Charismatic Renewal. The mass was celebrated by the Pope. 1) He was greeted by a congregation singing in tongues - no known previous occurance 2) Individuals approached the microphones during the prayer and praise portions of the service to deliver messages in tongues and to deliver prophecys - no known previous occurance 3) Some of the speakers were women - no known previous occurance (of any woman presenting anything) 4) The Pope delivered a homily recognizing the occurances as acceptable and valid reflections on the Catholic faith and asked those present to return to their homelands to continue their work of spreading the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The Catholic Church may *never* have allowed women to be ordained, but could that be because the women never asked? Hypothesis: Maybe the sainted women of old were content to play the role asked them by their society, and the saintly women of today are simply trying to fulfill the role today's society is asking them to play. I don't know. Do you? -- Bob Van Cleef vancleef@nas.nasa.gov NASA Ames Research Center (415) 604-4366 --- Perception is reality...