Letters

Women priests

Robert Prinzen-Wood

Contents - Mar 2010 - Buy a copy now Annunciation: Benedict XVI: Mary's acceptance of the Divine Word Secularism: Benedict to UK bishops: resist secularist threat - Michael Gilchrist News: The Church Around the World Netherlands: Remnants of faith in Europe's most secularised nation - Marina Corradi Year for the Priest: English-speaking clergy: first ever international conference - Fr Glen Tattersall Courage: A Catholic psychologist exposes 'gay' myths - Marie Mason Culture of Life: Cardinal Pell receives pro-life von Galen Award - Babette Francis Archbishop Saldanha reports from Pakistan - Archbishop Lawrence Saldanha Foundations of Faith: What the Second Vatican Council really said - John Young Conversion: Paul Fitzgerald: my spiritual journey - Paul Fitzgerald Youth: Summer School of Evangelisation: helping young people's faith - Johanna Banks Events: AD2000 - Passover Meal - 30 March 2010 Letters: Climate censorship - Michael Griffiths Letters: Genuine ecumenism - Rev Fr M. Durham Letters: Evil laws - Ken Bayliss Letters: Common sense - Maureen Federico Letters: Faith alone - Frank Mobbs (Dr) Letters: Women priests - Robert Prinzen-Wood Letters: Seminarian's prayer - J. Loring Holy Week: Holy Week 2010: Extraordinary Form of the Roman Liturgy (1962 Missal) Books: Adrienne von Speyr: THE BOUNDLESS GOD and CONFESSION - Br Barry Coldrey (reviewer) Books: THE GOD WHO LOVES YOU, by Peter Kreeft - Br Barry Coldrey (reviewer) Books: LORETO IN AUSTRALIA, by Mary Ryllis Clark - Katharine Munro (reviewer) Gaudeamus igitur: University graduation: a young Catholic's Valedictory Address - Michael Gleeson Books: Order books from www.freedompublishing.com.au Reflection: Mary in medieval art: an expression of the Church's faith - Bishop Arthur Serratelli

Kathleen Wood's reply to my letter entitled 'Complementarity' (December-January AD2000) mentions that the Church no longer holds the view that women are unilaterally subject to men. In fact the Church has never taught this.

Complementarity does not mean unilateral subjection to men. This is a feminist interpretation of complementarity. Complementarity is about equal dignity with different though complementary roles.

Tradition, the Church Fathers, Holy Scripture and recent popes have all promoted complementarity regarding male and female roles. God has established reality in this way.

It is the principles behind 1 Tim 2:11-12, 1 Cor 14:34-38, Casti Conubii and Ordinatio Sacerdotalis. It wasn't simply 'a fact of sacred history' as Kathleen Wood states.

Priests are spiritual fathers over both men and women. Women, because of complementarity and not because of any 'unilateral subjection to men' (something the Church has never taught), can never be priests.

ROBERT PRINZEN-WOOD
Regents Park, Qld

Reprinted from AD2000 Vol 23 No 2 (March 2010), p. 16