Women protesting war, advocating ordination draw praise from visiting bishop
July 23, 2015
A group of women who have quietly held signs in a Washington, DC, church, pleading for peace and for the ordination of women, drew praise from a visiting bishop.
Bishop John Ricard, the retired Bishop of Pensacola, Florida, singled out the women at the conclusion of a Confirmation ceremony. “I want to thank you for standing, for your witness,” he said. “Thank you for believing in the church and working to change it from within."
Bishop Ricard later explained that he was applauding the women for their advocacy for peace. When questioned about the role of women in the Church, he replied: “I leave that to the current Pope.”
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Posted by: unum -
Jul. 24, 2015 8:56 AM ET USA
How does, “Thank you for believing in the church and working to change it from within" translate to "advocacy for peace"? It sounds very much like spin from the bishop!
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Posted by: Randal Mandock -
Jul. 23, 2015 9:49 PM ET USA
"I leave that to the current Pope." Is he serious? Cardinal Ratzinger demonstrated, and St. JPII made definitive, the Church's conclusion that she lacks authority to ordain women to the ministerial priesthood. A woman Catholic "priest" is a fiction of an irrational or emotional personality that cannot hear the words of reason over the din of confusion. 1) Christ was free to choose whom he may. He called by name only men. 2) The priest serves _in persona Christi_, a male. 3) God is called father.
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Posted by: feedback -
Jul. 23, 2015 9:37 PM ET USA
It seems that they combined it with an anti-war protest in attempt to add legitimacy of their women ordination agenda. One person posted the following observation, "Maybe they should be protesting war at their Congress person's office? The Church isn't the one who sends our men and women in uniform into combat, our elected officials do, so I don't see the point picketing the Church over war."
