Roman Catholic Womenpriests
Encyclopedia
Roman Catholic Womenpriests (RCWP) is an Independent Catholic international group that asserts a connection to the Catholic Church. They are descended from the Danube Seven
, a group of women who claim to have been ordained
as priests
in 2002 by Rómulo Antonio Braschi
, an independent bishop. According to a book published by the organization, Women Find a Way: The Movement and Stories of Roman Catholic Womenpriests at least two other, unnamed bishops were involved in the ordination. In addition, the RCWP claim that these bishops
were in good standing and acted in full apostolic succession
.
In 2007 the Vatican Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith
, with the necesssary authorization of the Pope, decreed the penalty of automatic excommunication
against anyone "who attempts to confer a sacred order
on a woman, and the woman who attempts to receive a sacred order".
The proclaimed mission of Roman Catholic Womenpriests North America is to
The Roman Catholic Church's canon law
bars ordination of women, stating that "A baptized male (vir) alone receives sacred ordination validly". The Church sees this as not merely a matter of changeable law, but something that it cannot alter: Pope John Paul II
wrote in his Apostolic Letter Ordinatio Sacerdotalis
of 22 May 1994: "We declare that the Church has no authority whatsoever to confer priestly ordination on women and that this judgment is to be held by all the Church's faithful". Thus, according to the Catholic Church, any ordination of a woman to the priesthood conducted even by a Catholic bishop in good standing is absolutely without sacrament
al effect.
RCWP dissents from what it calls myths or misconceptions about women's role in the Catholic Church and about the exclusion of women from Holy Orders:
It mentions the case of Ludmila Javorová
, a Czech
woman who worked in the underground church during the Cold War
and claims to be a secretly ordained priest, as an instance of female ordination in the modern era.
In response to questions of legitimacy and whether the ordinations are valid or recognized by the Vatican
, RCWP states:
Their website claims that "Our ordained women may be married or single, hetero- or homosexual, some are grandmothers, a few are divorced and have had their marriages annulled: we are in fact a cross-section of the Christian community in our lifestyles."
documents female priests, including Roman Catholic Womenpriests.
Danube Seven
The Danube Seven are a group of seven women from Germany, Austria and the United States who were ordained on a ship on the Danube on 29 June 2002 by Rómulo Antonio Braschi, an Independent Catholic bishop whose own episcopal ordination was considered 'valid but...
, a group of women who claim to have been ordained
Ordination
In general religious use, ordination is the process by which individuals are consecrated, that is, set apart as clergy to perform various religious rites and ceremonies. The process and ceremonies of ordination itself varies by religion and denomination. One who is in preparation for, or who is...
as priests
Presbyter
Presbyter in the New Testament refers to a leader in local Christian congregations, then a synonym of episkopos...
in 2002 by Rómulo Antonio Braschi
Rómulo Antonio Braschi
Rómulo Antonio Braschi is an Argentine Independent Catholic bishop, not in communion with the Vatican.Born in Buenos Aires, and ordained a Roman Catholic priest in August 1966, he was associated with members of the worker-priest movement in Argentina and the Movimiento de Sacerdotes para el Tercer...
, an independent bishop. According to a book published by the organization, Women Find a Way: The Movement and Stories of Roman Catholic Womenpriests at least two other, unnamed bishops were involved in the ordination. In addition, the RCWP claim that these bishops
Bishop (Catholic Church)
In the Catholic Church, a bishop is an ordained minister who holds the fullness of the sacrament of Holy Orders and is responsible for teaching the Catholic faith and ruling the Church....
were in good standing and acted in full apostolic succession
Apostolic Succession
Apostolic succession is a doctrine, held by some Christian denominations, which asserts that the chosen successors of the Twelve Apostles, from the first century to the present day, have inherited the spiritual, ecclesiastical and sacramental authority, power, and responsibility that were...
.
In 2007 the Vatican Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith
Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith
The Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith , previously known as the Supreme Sacred Congregation of the Roman and Universal Inquisition , and after 1904 called the Supreme...
, with the necesssary authorization of the Pope, decreed the penalty of automatic excommunication
Latae sententiae
Latæ sententiæ is a Latin term used in the canon law of the Catholic Church meaning literally "given sentence".Officially, a latae sententiae penalty follows automatically, by force of the law itself, when the law is contravened....
against anyone "who attempts to confer a sacred order
Holy Orders
The term Holy Orders is used by many Christian churches to refer to ordination or to those individuals ordained for a special role or ministry....
on a woman, and the woman who attempts to receive a sacred order".
The proclaimed mission of Roman Catholic Womenpriests North America is to
"...spiritually prepare, ordainThe organization has sponsored numerous ordination ceremonies for women, resulting in their excommunication.OrdinationIn general religious use, ordination is the process by which individuals are consecrated, that is, set apart as clergy to perform various religious rites and ceremonies. The process and ceremonies of ordination itself varies by religion and denomination. One who is in preparation for, or who is...
, and support women and men from all states of life, who are theologicallyTheologyTheology is the systematic and rational study of religion and its influences and of the nature of religious truths, or the learned profession acquired by completing specialized training in religious studies, usually at a university or school of divinity or seminary.-Definition:Augustine of Hippo...
qualified, who are committed to an inclusive model of Church, and who are called by the Holy SpiritHoly SpiritHoly Spirit is a term introduced in English translations of the Hebrew Bible, but understood differently in the main Abrahamic religions.While the general concept of a "Spirit" that permeates the cosmos has been used in various religions Holy Spirit is a term introduced in English translations of...
and their communities to minister within the Roman Catholic Church."
The Roman Catholic Church's canon law
Canon law (Catholic Church)
The canon law of the Catholic Church, is a fully developed legal system, with all the necessary elements: courts, lawyers, judges, a fully articulated legal code and principles of legal interpretation. It lacks the necessary binding force present in most modern day legal systems. The academic...
bars ordination of women, stating that "A baptized male (vir) alone receives sacred ordination validly". The Church sees this as not merely a matter of changeable law, but something that it cannot alter: Pope John Paul II
Pope John Paul II
Blessed Pope John Paul II , born Karol Józef Wojtyła , reigned as Pope of the Catholic Church and Sovereign of Vatican City from 16 October 1978 until his death on 2 April 2005, at of age. His was the second-longest documented pontificate, which lasted ; only Pope Pius IX ...
wrote in his Apostolic Letter Ordinatio Sacerdotalis
Ordinatio Sacerdotalis
Ordinatio Sacerdotalis is an Apostolic Letter issued from the Vatican by Pope John Paul II on 22 May 1994, whereby the Pope expounds the teaching of the Catholic Church's position requiring "the reservation of priestly ordination to men alone." In its clear proclamation that "the Church has no...
of 22 May 1994: "We declare that the Church has no authority whatsoever to confer priestly ordination on women and that this judgment is to be held by all the Church's faithful". Thus, according to the Catholic Church, any ordination of a woman to the priesthood conducted even by a Catholic bishop in good standing is absolutely without sacrament
Sacrament
A sacrament is a sacred rite recognized as of particular importance and significance. There are various views on the existence and meaning of such rites.-General definitions and terms:...
al effect.
RCWP dissents from what it calls myths or misconceptions about women's role in the Catholic Church and about the exclusion of women from Holy Orders:
It mentions the case of Ludmila Javorová
Ludmila Javorová
Ludmila Javorová is a Czech Roman Catholic woman who worked in the underground church during the time of communist rule in Czechoslovakia and served as a vicar general of a clandestine bishop...
, a Czech
Czech Republic
The Czech Republic is a landlocked country in Central Europe. The country is bordered by Poland to the northeast, Slovakia to the east, Austria to the south, and Germany to the west and northwest....
woman who worked in the underground church during the Cold War
Cold War
The Cold War was the continuing state from roughly 1946 to 1991 of political conflict, military tension, proxy wars, and economic competition between the Communist World—primarily the Soviet Union and its satellite states and allies—and the powers of the Western world, primarily the United States...
and claims to be a secretly ordained priest, as an instance of female ordination in the modern era.
In response to questions of legitimacy and whether the ordinations are valid or recognized by the Vatican
Holy See
The Holy See is the episcopal jurisdiction of the Catholic Church in Rome, in which its Bishop is commonly known as the Pope. It is the preeminent episcopal see of the Catholic Church, forming the central government of the Church. As such, diplomatically, and in other spheres the Holy See acts and...
, RCWP states:
Their website claims that "Our ordained women may be married or single, hetero- or homosexual, some are grandmothers, a few are divorced and have had their marriages annulled: we are in fact a cross-section of the Christian community in our lifestyles."
Media Response
The movie Pink Smoke Over the VaticanPink Smoke over the Vatican
Pink Smoke over the Vatican is a 2011 documentary film by Jules Hart about women who have been ordained as priests in the Roman Catholic Church despite their status as invalid...
documents female priests, including Roman Catholic Womenpriests.
External links
- RCWP Website
- BBC Article - Canada Catholics 'ordain' women
- Cincinnati CityBeat
- Global Ministries University