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Westminster Cathedral: hordes, throngs, mobs demanding ordination of women
Posted on 16 January 2011 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf
Mulier Fortis has an amusing note in her post about the ordination of the former Anglican bishops.
I was slightly amused to see this photo on Facebook. The hordes of supporters calling for the Holy Father to ordain women…
…almost outnumbered by the cameraman and the interviewer…
It is to laugh.
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23 Responses to Westminster Cathedral: hordes, throngs, mobs demanding ordination of women
Supertradmum says:
This is great…..the camera person has to try and get an view to make it all look bigger..fight on, girls…
Ben Yanke says:
Wow. That's a mob alright. Hahahaha…
I wish that cameraman would take it from the same view that we are seeing!!!
TJerome says:
Man! Pardon me, Women! You could almost get run over by such a crowd.
RichR says:
Looks like they aren't attracting much of the younger crowd….or any crowd, for that matter.
Central Valley says:
From which convent did the old gals walk away from?
Childermass says:
Even more amusing is the commentary on the demonstrators by the Guardian:
"Catholicism isn't that keen on women on the altar – to the pain of the demonstrators from the Catholic Women's Ordination movement protesting outside the cathedral's doors – and it doesn't usually countenance priests having wives….
"It is the Vatican's negative attitude to women's ministry that formed the backdrop to the whole affair. The three recruits oppose the Church of England's plans to appoint female bishops and regard the Catholic priesthood as a safe, female-free haven."
It seems that they are a bit upset:
"In the face of poverty, climate change, natural disasters and all the other challenges facing our planet for religious institutions to be consumed in bickering about whether women can be priests is the stuff of satire.
It is only institutional religion that continues to regard women as second-class citizens. If Catholicism believes that recruiting a handful of renegade Anglicans who share its institutional misogyny will buttress its position it is mistaken."
Read on for a laugh!
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/jan/15/anglican-bishops-ordained-catholic-priests
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2011/jan/16/observer-editorial-anglican-catholic-ordination?CMP=twt_gu
michael-can says:
That's her bag, she's ready to join the priesthood, don't laugh just yet, our N.O. now have Altar girls in training and give it enought time this joke may become a problem, so we must foreseen as warning, some smart bishop are aware of this and remove all girls from serving. Pray that one day all bishop world wide would follow.
I love the intensity of the reporter and photographer, like it's oh-so serious.
Hasn't anyone told these two about the Anglican Communion? They have pretty much everything they want, and I'm sure the Archbishop of Canterbury would love to take in some "disgruntled Catholics" just the Bishop of Rome took in some "disgruntled Anglicans"!
The aforementioned pieces in the Guardian are here, if this post doesn't get flagged:
Dr. K says:
I see their movement is growing.
off2 says:
Geoffrey, My Lord Canterbury has little but disgruntled Anglicans left in his communion.
On a more serious note, I have this mental image of those poor women approaching the Throne for their exit interviews. It would be very sad for them to hear, "Depart! I never knew you." A brief prayer, from enough of us, might help. [/preachy]
Fr Deacon Daniel says:
Isn't that Sister Wanda B. Priest on the right? ;-)
MaryRoseM says:
I'm coming with a different perspective regarding the ordination of women (And may just write my own post about it.). The ordination of women has become politicized as the feminist movement systematically infiltrated Protestant and non-denominational churches over the past 40 years. Since my return to the Catholic Church in 2008, I have continued to hear the same complaint: The Roman Catholic Church treats women as "second-class citizens." What amazing ignorance such accusations expose!
For one, we have our Blessed Mother, Mary — Mother of God; who I may add, has been elevated and reverenced in the Church in a multitude of ways. If I could have a word with those women who are so unhappy with the Church, I'd ask them to please consider Our Lady, and dare them to follow her ways. She led her life in complete obedience to God and had a humility, love, and compassion — not to mention a boatload of wisdom. She has influenced everyone from popes and kings to small children. If what these women are seeking is recognition and influence, I can think of no better woman as a role model than the BVM.
And secondly, we have in the Church three women Doctors of the Faith (out of 33). And those women lived centuries before feminism reared its self-centered big head! St. Catherine of Sienna (1347-80), St. Teresa of Avila (1515-82), and St. Theresa of Lisieux (1873-97). Those saints are my role models, not Gloria Steinem.
I was ordained within my non-denominational church but over the years, I believe the Lord has shown me some (ugly) truths about the pursuit of power; and I realize we all know that this is what it's about. Power. However, what priest do you know who has that as his motivation to serve? None I can think of. To answer the call to the priesthood is to surrender to a life of sacrifice. It is a life of serving. Try explaining that to these thick-headed women. I suspect all one would receive is a blank stare.
Amongst all the other reason for reverting to the Catholic Faith, one of them was, that as a Baptist for a number of years, I was never ever comfortable with women being ordained as Baptist Ministers. I have always felt repelled by the Anglican movement 'ordaining' women as well.
I felt in my heart as a Baptist at that time that it was unscriptural but I tolerated it as an error that may be modified.
The Catholic Church has proved herself to keep to the Holy Scriptures and although this ordination of women may appear to be a minor issue and a cause for mockery, I think it is very serious as it veers away from what Jesus Christ Himself Ordained; that the ongoing Catholic Church should be led by men, as with His first Apostles.
To me, the dissenting churches make a mockery of The Last Supper; not intentionally I know, but if ever The Pontiff allowed ordination of women (which I know he never will) I would not attend a Mass where a woman celebrated The Holy Mass.
I say this to say how strongly I object to some mortals trying to make a pantomime out of Christs' One True Church despite much of the good they may do in other ways.
I Thank God that He made it very clear that His chosen Priesthood are men and that His Church, The Catholic Church adhere to His instruction.
puma19 says:
This is:
1. obviously a ground swell
2.some women just have trouble in the wind
3.a photographer who is hard up for a good news story
4.frustration at some people not getting their message across
5.a couple of ladies with nothing better to do
6.the start of a major theological revolution
7.some women who want women ordained right this very moment
8.a typical opinion poll – no one really knows what the question is all about and very few get to give their opinion and then the media jump on to it to make it into a big news story that was never there in the first place and really needs no attention whatsoever and should never have done so in the first place.
what a complete waste of time and energy and really out of tune with what people really believe.
Oh, and the photograher's picture never made the front page of any major or minor paper in London. QED
Sixupman says:
A Free Church minister firend of mine, some years ago, said that he knew of no biblical reason against the ordination of woment, but suspected their motivation for the same.
He aslo stated that he was aghast at the Churches abandonment of the Old Rite and lack of charity towards the older clergy and the disorientation he had seen amongst the older parishioners. At the time he was on missionary work in South Korea and had close relations with Catholic clergy there. He said that if that had become known at home, he would be excommunicated, back in the Scottish/English Boarders. [North Cumberland Mission – made up of lay preachers, he was also an alumnus of Bob Jones University – a real character, he also ministered to gypsies.]
avecrux says:
"Catholicism isn't keen on women on the altar…" – yes.
Am I the only one who gets frustrated with the way the term "altar" is used instead of "sanctuary"?
SimonDodd says:
With one change ("at" for "on"), it seems more precise. In context, "at the altar" is a viable if needless figure of speech for the priesthood, but "in the sanctuary" isn't: We allow women in the sanctuary, serving in various ministries. Over the objections of some, to be sure, but we still allow it.
The Guardian (quoted by Childermass) said:
This mode of argument—more commonly found in political commentary, particularly about the culture wars—drives me up the wall, because it's so plainly disingenuous. It's a very passive-aggressive posture; hidden behind "let's drop this" is "let's drop this by accepting my position and moving on." And it's usually deployed by people who are demanding a change. They push an issue, and then chide those who say "hold on a minute there, what are you doing?" by saying "this issue is so unimportant, why are you resisting?" Well, pal, if it "doesn't matter" then drop it! You can't have it both ways; you can't take sides and advocate a firm position on an issue and dismiss that issue as frivolous. If consuming resources on this issue is "the stuff of satire," why don't you stop, since you're the ones who keep bringing it up? Ah, but that of course isn't the Grauniad's idea. They don't want the issue dropped, they want the point conceded. They're like football players going all out to beat the other team while yelling "this whole thing is silly, why don't we just stop wasting energy on trying to beat one another, and by the way, if you wouldn't mind awfully getting out of the way of the goal."
ipadre says:
LOL, a blast from the past! All two of them.
There used to be a group of women who came to our Chrism Mass. Each wore a purple scarf and marched up at the end of the Communion line carrying books by Kung, Schillebeeckx, etc… not one carried a Bible. Each year they dwindled. They no longer come! That generation is dying off and soon will be no more.
it's truly pathetic when more people have commented on the "demonstration" than were present at the event itself!!
David Zampino says:
If the dissidents keep aborting and contracepting themselves out of business, we'll win by default!
What a sad picture!