Pope Francis & women related.

[IIOY]

DD has been on fire for months, ever since she learned that women can't be Pope. She asked me to take her into the city this weekend to meet the Pope so that she could ask him why she can't be Pope.

[WanderingWinoZ]

www.nbcnews.com/storyline/pope-francis-visits-america/renegade-female-priests-hold-peaceful-protest-amid-pope-francis-visit-n432371

WASHINGTON — A half-dozen protesters demanding the ordination of women priests staged a "lie-in" just before Pope Francis arrived at a Washington church for a Mass with U.S. bishops.

The civil disobedience, organized by the Association of Roman Catholic Women Priests, caused a small disturbance as police rushed in to clear the area of spectators and arrest the renegades.

The demonstrators were still on the ground, with banners draped across their robe-clad bodies, when the pope arrived at the Cathedral of St. Matthew fresh from his meeting with President Obama at the White House.


Protesters calling for the ordination of women stage a lie-in across from St. Matthew's just before the pope's scheduled arrival. Tracy Connor / NBC News
Each participant was issued a $50 ticket for blocking the road and held on the corner until the pope left the event, his motorcade whisking by them on the way to the next event, the canonization of missionary Junipero Serra.

"He saw our signs," said Janice Sevre-Duszynska, one of those arrested. "He looked right at us."

Her group believes there is no theological reason the priesthood should not be open to women. It ordains women priests in ceremonies that are not recognized by the church and that are considered grounds for excommunication.

Despite his progressive bent, Pope Francis has said "the door is closed" on the subject of women priests, disappointing Sevre-Duszynska and others who hoped he would crack that door open.


Tracy Connor / NBC News
"He has not moved an inch," said Maria Eitz, who was ordained three years ago and traveled to San Francisco for the protest.

"He is a good man and he is a kind man and he stands up for the poor and that is wonderful, but the poor include women and this pope does not understand women. He has called women flowers and strawberries. We are much more than flowers and strawberries."

Down the street from the women, spectator Kathy Diaz, who came from Florida to be part of the pope's first U.S. visit, watched the protesters as they played a cat-and-mouse game with police trying to keep the crosswalks clear.

Diaz said she would welcome female priests but doesn't think it will happen.

"The Bible says the priests have to be men, and the pope has to follow the Bible," she said.

[saz]

This came up in my house today too- DS asked if a lady could be Pope and I said no and he looked really confused and said "that doesn't seem quite right."

[ringstrue]

I don't get how you can advocate for the poor, seek equal treatment of all classes and races, and still be against female equality. They are all related! You can't hope to eradicate poverty while oppressing half the population!!

[Deleted]

He is a great improvement over the last pope, but only in words, and only in some of them.

[sfy]

One of my mother's closest friends is a former nun. She recently joined the priesthood via the Association of Roman Catholic Women Priests, the result of which was her ex-communication. She is/was a devout Catholic who is an even more staunch feminist. I am disappointed that Pope Francis is open-minded on so many issues, yet entirely closed on this. It would mean the world to her to have the acceptance of the Church.

[memenee]

Just curious, as I'm not religious at all. Does the bible say this?

"The Bible says the priests have to be men, and the pope has to follow the Bible," she said.

[LoveTrains]

Sept 25, 2015 3:24:51 GMT -5 memenee said:

Just curious, as I'm not religious at all. Does the bible say this?

"The Bible says the priests have to be men, and the pope has to follow the Bible," she said.

I believe it's an interpretive issue. So for example the Protestant faiths allow for female pastors, including the espiscopalians which allow for female bishops. But Jesus only had the 12 male disciples which is where I think the limitation comes from.

[sushi]

There used to be female catholic priests. I can't remember how long ago, though. Centuries.

[Deleted]

Sept 24, 2015 18:51:32 GMT -5 ringstrue said:

I don't get how you can advocate for the poor, seek equal treatment of all classes and races, and still be against female equality. They are all related! You can't hope to eradicate poverty while oppressing half the population!!

I know right? And yet people think he is soooo liberal.

It's a shame because the CC has a big demographic problem wrt priests and letting women into the priesthood would go a long way to solving it. It could be amazingly revitalizing for them. But no. Probably not in our lifetimes. I read somewhere that they will most likely let make priests marry before empowering women that way.

[Deleted]

Sept 25, 2015 3:24:51 GMT -5 memenee said:

Just curious, as I'm not religious at all. Does the bible say this?

"The Bible says the priests have to be men, and the pope has to follow the Bible," she said.

I'm not religious either so don't quote me on this but I'm pretty sure it's not in the gospels, though it is mentioned in some of the epistles. I think it is more of a tradition thing than a prohibition from Jesus.

[msmerymac]

Sept 25, 2015 6:01:25 GMT -5 sushi said:

There used to be female catholic priests. I can't remember how long ago, though. Centuries.

Priests used to be able to marry, too. Funny how that works. 

[debatethis]

Sept 25, 2015 5:40:30 GMT -5 LoveTrains said:

Sept 25, 2015 3:24:51 GMT -5 memenee said:

Just curious, as I'm not religious at all. Does the bible say this?

"The Bible says the priests have to be men, and the pope has to follow the Bible," she said.

I believe it's an interpretive issue. So for example the Protestant faiths allow for female pastors, including the espiscopalians which allow for female bishops. But Jesus only had the 12 male disciples which is where I think the limitation comes from.

There's some more background here, but it's a hotly debated theological issue: www.christianbiblereference.org/faq_women.htm