Posted on 09/15/2013 5:09:15 AM PDT by NYer
ALBANY -- Eleven of the country's 100 women who call themselves and work as Catholic priests will gather in Albany this weekend for the ordination of Mary Theresa Streck into the Association of Roman Catholic Women Priests.
Streck, who grew up at a church in Loudonville and joined and left a convent, says Catholocism has been her life-long calling and becoming a priest is a fulfillment of her faith.
"To facilitate bringing people together to celebrate Eucharist and all celebrate Eucharist together. We are all saying the words of Consecration and all praying together in a community of equals," Streck explained of her calling.
The ceremony will be performed by a bishop affiliated with the Association of Roman Catholic Women Priests. Bridget Mary Meehan was one of the country's first women priests and denounces the Vatican's position that this is not a valid ordination.
"We are faithful Catholics who love our church and who embrace the vision of Jesus and the Gospel," said Bishop Meehan.
Once ordained, Streck will lead what she describes as an inclusive, Catholic community of about 40 people -- men, women, gay, straight, divorced, married and single -- at a Unitarian church in Albany.
"(People) who have been pretty much disenfranchised from the church and so they look for spirituality, a place they feel welcome and a theology that resonates in their heart and soul," added Streck.
Despite her new position, Streck plans to also attend a church within the Albany Diocese.
According to Diocesan spokesman Ken Goldfarb, "...A woman who claims to be an ordained Roman Catholic priest has separated herself from full communion with the Roman Catholic Church Further, the sacraments she celebrates are not considered valid in the eyes of the Roman Catholic Church."
"It's really about sexism," added Meehan. "There is a blockage with women not seeing them as true equals. The gift of our movement is we are equal images of God."
Goldfarb stated, additionally, that sacraments like communion are a private matter between a pastor and an individual.
Streck's ordination is at 2:30 p.m. Sunday at the Unitarian Church on Washington Avenue in Albany.
i looked at your posting history, seems 99% of your posts are anti-Catholic on religious threads, you're a real one trick pony... and you still didn't answer my question.
I suppose it would just be too simple for her to become a Unitarian minister; or, an Episcopalian minister. No, this is a political statement and nothing else.
1 Timothy 2
King James Bible
A Call to Prayer
1I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; 2For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. 3For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; 4Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth. 5For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; 6Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time. 7Whereunto I am ordained a preacher, and an apostle, (I speak the truth in Christ, and lie not;) a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and verity. 8I will therefore that men pray every where, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting.
Instructions to Women
9In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array; 10But (which becometh women professing godliness) with good works. 11Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection. 12But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence. 13For Adam was first formed, then Eve. 14And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression. 15Notwithstanding she shall be saved in childbearing, if they continue in faith and charity and holiness with sobriety.
This site seems to address serious translation issues leading to that interpretation:
http://christianfeminism.wordpress.com/2008/07/04/the-mistranslation-of-1-timothy-211-12/
Nowhere does scripture EVER imply, let alone state, that men and women are equals.THUS
For you to direct me to the oxymoronic christianfeminism site is an insult to your ability to argue against the clear position of the scriptures.
A Freeper should be above launching an ad hominem (and ad situm) attack, rather than engaging with the argument and evidence presented.
It may come as a surprise to learn there are married priests in the Catholic Church. How do you feel about married priests?
When I was growing up, my dad was Roman Catholic and my mom was Russian Orthodox. I think church events with the priest and his family set a nice tone in the Orthodox church.
I haven’t answered your question, herr Chode, because I haven’t been home. Had I known you would be asking for my papers, I would have stuck around waiting for your rude reply. I asked because I was curious. Note: WAS CURIOUS. Now not so much. Don’t worry, your secret is safe with me. I won’t let anyone know that a (((((screech))))) non-Catholic actually got you to post to them. Now carry on with your bad self.
Like you, I grew up Roman Catholic with a celibate priesthood. Ten years ago, I joined a Maronite (Eastern) Catholic Church with no formal switch of rites (not necessary since Catholic is Catholic). In October 2005, speaking to the 11th General Synod Fathers, gathered for their eighth meeting at the Vatican, Cardinal Nasrallah Pierre Sfeir, who is Patriarch of Antioch of the Maronites in Lebanon--a Catholic rite which allows for married priests--addressed the issue (of married priests), which has been brought up by many, particularly in light of the U.S. sex abuse scandal, of commonly permitting married priests in the Roman rite. The Cardinal defended the practice of the celibate priesthood and discussed the beauty of the tradition, calling it the "most precious jewel in the treasury of the Catholic Church."
While pointing out that "the Maronite Church admits married priests" and that "half of our diocesan priests are married", the Cardinal Patriarch said that "it must be recognized that if admitting married men resolves one problem, it creates others just as serious."
"A married priest", he said, "has the duty to look after his wife and family, ensuring his children receive a good education and overseeing their entry into society. ... Another difficulty facing a married priest arises if he does not enjoy a good relationship with his parishioners; his bishop cannot transfer him because of the difficulty of transferring his whole family.
It is the policy of the Maronite Church that only celibate priests be allowed to serve in the diaspora (outside of Lebanon). The majority of Maronite parishes in the US are small by comparison to their Latin Rite counterparts. We can barely support a celibate priest, much less a wife and children.
Personally, or what the Church teaches?
If I could have been a married priest, I would have become a priest. But...
In Scripture, Jesus and St. Paul make it clear that the celibate state is greater than the married state, for those that are called to it. I was torn, myself, but I wanted children more than anything.
As NYer said, Eastern Rite Catholic priests are allowed to marry. But their priests must be married prior to being ordained, and bishops cannot be married. At least that's what I remember. Also, there are some married priests in the Latin Rite. John Paul II exempted married Anglican priest converts from the Latin Rite discipline.
And since it is a discipline, it can change over time, for pastoral and prudential reasons, and it has.
You didn’t ask me, so forgive me for answering anyway...
Matthew 18:12 ...there be eunuchs, which have made themselves eunuchs for the kingdom of heaven’s sake ...
Obiously they did not make themselves eunuchs in the literal sense, the point here is that being unencumbered by wife, children, etc., frees a man to devote himself solely to God.
Also Jesus tells us that we have to leave behind mother, father, etc. to follow him - again not necessarily literally but the point being to focus on Him. Some who are called actually do join the monastic life, and scripture would support this concept.
This is the best route - but as the orthodox, etc., allow married priests, clearly the other routes are not “wrong”.
PS I live in the Albany Diocese; I didn’t know about this - I am looking forward to Hubbard’s departure; countless schools and irreplaceable historic churches have been closed and some destroyed on his watch. I pray for a miracle - that his successor will be conservative and able to turn things around for us.
see also my reply post #52 to grania - we seem to be generally on the same page ...
re: married priests. Those are all excellent points to ponder.
No addendum as to whether they should not be clergy or not.
feh...
Yes, agreed.
...pfffftttt...
The Pope is the chosen leader, chosen under the influence of God the Holy Spirit and is not God, but his chosen representative as he appointed Peter to be the Rock and lead His Church.
In the Gospel, Jesus describes that if we’re going to be true members of his family, we’re going to imitate Mary in our obedience to God’s word. After having been informed that Mary and Jesus’ relatives were outside asking for him, Jesus replied, “Whoever does the will of God is my brother and sister and mother.”
Our obedience in faith is not only modeled on Jesus’ obedience to the Father but takes place within his very obedience. To follow Christ means ultimately to follow him on the inside, to be incorporated into Him by the Holy Spirit as he says with trust to the Father, “Not my will, but thine be done.”
Today’s Gospel retells 3 parables, and to express God’s Mercy to us as sinners, he welcomes us back with great enthusiasm as the Prodigal son.
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