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Theologian responds to Milwaukee priest’s views on women’s ordination

CWN - January 05, 2011

Monica Migliorino Miller, a theology professor at Madonna University in Michigan, has defended Catholic teaching on women’s ordination in response to a recent newspaper column by Father Victor Capriolo. The Milwaukee priest stated that that the ordination of women would make “better sense” because women are more fitting images of the Church as the Bride of Christ.

“Not only is Father Capriolo theologically in error on the subject of women’s ordination, he is pastorally irresponsible and reckless,” writes Miller. “The male priesthood makes the love of Christ the bridegroom intelligible and sacramentally real. Thus, the male gender of the priesthood cannot be forfeited.”

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  • Posted by: Minnesota Mary - Jan. 05, 2011 8:24 PM ET USA

    A priest is the physical stand-in for Jesus Christ (alter Christus) during the holy sacrifice of the Mass. If a priest were to be a woman, then the relationship between Christ (the bridegroom) and His Church (the bride) would constitute a lesbian relationship which can bear no fruit.

  • Posted by: Louise - Jan. 05, 2011 7:35 PM ET USA

    Holy Orders is a sacrament and as such its form and matter were set by Christ Himself and if either is substantially changed, the sacrament ceases to exist. This would be a huge injustice to God's people who would then be deprived of the sacraments that depend on the legitimate priesthood. It is sad to me that a priest doesn't understand this basic point.

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