Between calling for women’s equality, saying the Church is examining women deacons, and lamenting Trump's fight with Canada, Pope Leo proved again he’s not afraid to surprise the world.
Kudos to Pope Leo for speaking his mind. We need more leaders just like him in the world today, especially here in America, where leaders are hard to find these days.
Any message praising non-Christian religious practices are likely to irk most conservatives. Leo isn’t shying away from concepts that teach Christians different aspects of the divine.
What conservatives call tradition began as innovative ways by Jesus to teach about the Kingdom of God/Heaven. How many times did the pious of his day rend their clothes upon hearing him preach?
In my experience I have always felt that female managers have been better. They do have to do more to prove their worth over the old boy network ‘time vs ability’ on the job aka “the peter principle”. They are not as protective of their position, down grading the work of staff but but more team oriented.
My grandson was about 4 or 5 when he asked an elderly priest after church why there weren't any girl priests. It took awhile before the old priest came up with an explanation that priests had always been male. Looking back on that day, it looks like the Catholic Church will soon see female priests even.
Unfortunately, my comment (the first one submitted yesterday) was not published. In my opinion, the heading of this email is very misleading, as the Pope never said those words, as explained later in the article. At one time his mother jokingly said them. The way the heading was presented definitely indicated that the Pope said these words, which I am sure he would not, and which some readers might construe as being a divisive statement. Let's stop the comments from readers that one group is better than another. It is not constructive. Hopefully my comment will not be edited out again.
Again this Substack always surprises me for how they are trying to ‘liberalize’ Pope Leo XIV.
Anyways, the Church will never allow women clerics. All the popes before Leo have said so and will Leo will uphold this eternal teaching. It is not a matter of women’s incapability of the clerical life. In fact there are many women who have positions of leadership in the church that are not priests. The question of the clerical life is a theological questions not a merit or historical question. If you believe priesthood is earned by merit you don’t understand the sacrament of Holy Orders.
We should stop the ridiculous push of the clericalization of women. Women do have an equal dignity of the church but equality of dignity does not equate to having the same roles in the church.
That’s what many in the Anglican Communion said for years. Sticking here to deacons, why limit this ministry to half of the faithful? We need more deacons and outreach in the world, not fewer. I applaud you for entering this conversation. It’s a difficult one.
Erik, you hit on the issue of " clericalization"....... and "clericalism" has been named, even by Popes, as a problem in the church in the sense of setting up a "caste system". The church actually teaches that the sacrament of baptism, not ordination, is the common thread of all the faithful, whatever their differences in gender, age, ethnicity, etc. I don't think women who are called to ministry want to be enablers of that kind of separation by becoming just another layer of clerical-ism-Lots of priests feel the same way. They don't want to be enablers of clericalism.
Just to get away for a minute from the issue of women priests....
There is no theological reason that women--with the vocational calling, theological education and pastoral experience--could not be immediately made Permanent Deacons. We have had that model in the Catholic Church now for over 50 years. It is the perfect place, precisely because being a Permanent Deacon cannot, by its definition, be a step to priesthood.
As you point out, women are already functioning on so many levels in pastoral ministry and leadership in the church....but in many places in the church, where there is a lack of young men feeling called to priesthood, there is an urgent need for more sacramental ministers. Women catechists are already leading many outlying mission communities. If --with the public authority of the church-- they could baptize, marry, bury, proclaim the Gospel, preach in places with too few or no priests, it would keep faith communities vital. Just my thoughts. Thank you, Erik.
Kudos to Pope Leo for speaking his mind. We need more leaders just like him in the world today, especially here in America, where leaders are hard to find these days.
Any message praising non-Christian religious practices are likely to irk most conservatives. Leo isn’t shying away from concepts that teach Christians different aspects of the divine.
What conservatives call tradition began as innovative ways by Jesus to teach about the Kingdom of God/Heaven. How many times did the pious of his day rend their clothes upon hearing him preach?
In my experience I have always felt that female managers have been better. They do have to do more to prove their worth over the old boy network ‘time vs ability’ on the job aka “the peter principle”. They are not as protective of their position, down grading the work of staff but but more team oriented.
My grandson was about 4 or 5 when he asked an elderly priest after church why there weren't any girl priests. It took awhile before the old priest came up with an explanation that priests had always been male. Looking back on that day, it looks like the Catholic Church will soon see female priests even.
The (washed) foot is in the door!
Thank you Chris for sharing this precious moment in the life of our Church! It’s so much needed it!
What a delight is to my soul to hear the voice of such a gentle, loving, joyful Pope! Thank you Lord for your Gift to us!
We now have a Church fully alive!!!
Alleluia 🤍!
Unfortunately, my comment (the first one submitted yesterday) was not published. In my opinion, the heading of this email is very misleading, as the Pope never said those words, as explained later in the article. At one time his mother jokingly said them. The way the heading was presented definitely indicated that the Pope said these words, which I am sure he would not, and which some readers might construe as being a divisive statement. Let's stop the comments from readers that one group is better than another. It is not constructive. Hopefully my comment will not be edited out again.
Again this Substack always surprises me for how they are trying to ‘liberalize’ Pope Leo XIV.
Anyways, the Church will never allow women clerics. All the popes before Leo have said so and will Leo will uphold this eternal teaching. It is not a matter of women’s incapability of the clerical life. In fact there are many women who have positions of leadership in the church that are not priests. The question of the clerical life is a theological questions not a merit or historical question. If you believe priesthood is earned by merit you don’t understand the sacrament of Holy Orders.
We should stop the ridiculous push of the clericalization of women. Women do have an equal dignity of the church but equality of dignity does not equate to having the same roles in the church.
That’s what many in the Anglican Communion said for years. Sticking here to deacons, why limit this ministry to half of the faithful? We need more deacons and outreach in the world, not fewer. I applaud you for entering this conversation. It’s a difficult one.
Erik, you hit on the issue of " clericalization"....... and "clericalism" has been named, even by Popes, as a problem in the church in the sense of setting up a "caste system". The church actually teaches that the sacrament of baptism, not ordination, is the common thread of all the faithful, whatever their differences in gender, age, ethnicity, etc. I don't think women who are called to ministry want to be enablers of that kind of separation by becoming just another layer of clerical-ism-Lots of priests feel the same way. They don't want to be enablers of clericalism.
Just to get away for a minute from the issue of women priests....
There is no theological reason that women--with the vocational calling, theological education and pastoral experience--could not be immediately made Permanent Deacons. We have had that model in the Catholic Church now for over 50 years. It is the perfect place, precisely because being a Permanent Deacon cannot, by its definition, be a step to priesthood.
As you point out, women are already functioning on so many levels in pastoral ministry and leadership in the church....but in many places in the church, where there is a lack of young men feeling called to priesthood, there is an urgent need for more sacramental ministers. Women catechists are already leading many outlying mission communities. If --with the public authority of the church-- they could baptize, marry, bury, proclaim the Gospel, preach in places with too few or no priests, it would keep faith communities vital. Just my thoughts. Thank you, Erik.
“Beneath the humor was a clear message: Leo wants a Church that gives women their due respect and opportunities for leadership.”
This is long overdue.
Hallelujah, about time.
💯
Watching and listening intently. Hope his wisdom rubs off on all of us.
Yes they are in every respect except physical strength!
In terms of flock. It’s just a better picture.
Again, the right person for the job! Thank you, Pope Leo, for your strong voice!
Pope Leo, Common Sense Christian!!!