Chapter 6 - Cast the First Stone

"Although the teaching that priestly ordination is to be reserved to men alone has been preserved by the constant and universal Tradition of the Church and firmly taught by the Magisterium in its more recent documents, at the present time in some places it is nonetheless considered still open to debate, or the Church's judgment that women are not to be admitted to ordination is considered to have a merely disciplinary force. Wherefore, in order that all doubt may be removed regarding a matter of great importance, a matter which pertains to the Church's divine constitution itself, in virtue of my ministry of confirming the brethren (cf. Lk 22:32) I declare that the Church has no authority whatsoever to confer priestly ordination on women and that this judgment is to be definitively held by all the Church's faithful."

APOSTOLIC LETTER 'ORDINATIO SACERDOTALIS'

OF JOHN PAUL II, May 22 1994

And to them, I say, I am a child of God. As for me and my house I will serve Him and Him alone.

"Unless I am convinced by the testimony of the Scriptures or by clear reason (for I do not trust either in the pope or to councils alone, since it well known that they have often erred and contradicted themselves), I am bound by the Scriptures I have quoted and my conscience is captive to the Word of God. I cannot and I will not retract anything since it is neither safe nor right to go against conscience. I cannot do otherwise, here I stand, may God help me. Amen"

MARTIN LUTHER, TO THE POPE

DIET OF WORMS, April 18 1521

Despite a Pope issuing a final verdict, declaring the case closed, hiding behind a self-proclaimed Doctrine of Infallibility, women have been falsely accused, and found guilty. I stand as Daniel, and remind all readers, whether they be Catholic, Orthodox, Evangelical or non-denominational Christians - that it is not unordinary for one single child of God to make a stand against everyone else. Neither does popular opinion, nor do men in robes, dictate truth. God alone is Truth.

Such a cautionary tale is found in the book of Daniel, chapter 13. Daniel knew through the Holy Spirit that the elders falsely accusing a young girl in front of the entire village, were actually guilty of the crime. Daniel could recognize in Susanna, the young girl, an honest cry for help. "Through tears she looked up to heaven, for she trusted in the Lord wholeheartedly." Daniel 13 : 35 Nevertheless, all the village believed the elders, "since they were elders and judges of the people, and they condemned her to death" Daniel 13 : 41

Daniel rises up with his voice, disregarding the opinion of men and their cowardice, in defense of Susanna. And his voice can be heard today, crying out in defense of the innocent - "Are you such fools, O children of Israel ! To condemn a woman of Israel without examination and without clear evidence ? Return to court, for they have testified falsely against her. Then all the people returned in haste." Daniel 13 : 48-50

To all believers, to the whole Body of Christ, I say to you, women have been the scapegoat, but everyone has suffered. And I hear the cries of so many women in the Church. I see the cries for justice silenced. I will not be silenced. I will not bow down to old buildings. The biggest challenge I now face is to know scripturally what God is saying about women's role in the Church.

Paul's words concerning assemblies require them to be orderly. “For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace,”

(1 Corinthians 14 : 33) so that even a man is encouraged to “keep silence in the church, and let him speak to himself, and to God.” 1 Corinthians 14 : 28

Paul further specifies - “I suffer not a woman... to usurp authority over the man.” 1 Timothy 2 : 12 Women are asked not to "usurp" men's authority, meaning, they have authority, but it must not be used to take down men's authority in the assembly.

So then - when can women have authority, and where can it be exercised ? My wife expressed the plea so eloquently : "Well, what is the Church ? Is that building ..." and she points to the church across the street that we can see from our window, "is that building the Church ? If "we" are the Church, and women aren't allowed to speak in the Church, then Paul is saying, women can't ever speak, ever. They have to be mute, forever." I laughed, as I thought to myself of Mary, singing out loud her Canticle at her cousin Elizabeth's home. Katarina continued, "in the Gospel Jesus Himself says, I will tear down the Temple and rebuild it in three days, a building not made by human hands. And that building that He will build in 3 days is His Body, that we are all members of. Does the left foot tell the right hand, you are less important than me, you need to be silent ??"

As I listened to my wife, I could hear all women asking for, demanding, an explanation. Jesus Himself told us, "But I say unto you, that in this place is one greater than the temple." Mathew 12 : 6 That "greater" thing ... is Jesus, and the unity that He is offering is in His Body. The woman in Christ is greater than the Jewish temple ... "But be not ye called Rabbi ; for one is your Master, even Christ ; and all ye are brethren. And call no man your father upon the earth ; for one is your Father, which is in heaven. Neither be ye called masters ; for one is your Master, even Christ." Mathew 23 : 8-10

Even Paul himself says, "keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling ; one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all." Ephesians 4 : 3-6

So now I was really confused. I was despairing, even, in my attempt to reconcile the Word of God ; Jesus, with the word of God, the Bible. I could not bring the two together, even as I just read these biblical passages exhorting us to unity ! Not just in word, but in deed ; not just in belief, but in action.

Why are women in the modern Church silenced ? Was it always this way ?

I went back to the beginning of the Church, its humble, lowly and simple beginnings. I knew I would find some guidance, some instruction - for when things are simple, I always find God. And I found it. The very first thing the disciples did after watching Jesus ascend into heaven, was to ... go home.

"Then returned they unto Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is from Jerusalem a sabbath day’s journey. And when they were come in, they went up into an upper room. These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren." Acts 1 : 12-14

And in that place, just as Jesus promised, He sent the Holy Spirit to them as the first portion of our inheritance. There were both men and women present. "And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance." Acts 2 : 2-4

And Peter said to a large crowd, "And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh ; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams ; and on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit." Acts 2 : 17-18

And that day 3000 disciples were added to the way, and Luke painted the most beautiful picture of what church should look like : "And they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread and in prayers. And fear came upon every soul ; and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles. And all that believed were together, and had all things common ; and sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need. And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart, praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved." Acts 2 : 42-47

It didn't take long for me to realize, that "church" didn't take place in a building as we know it. The Holy Spirit moved like the wind and roared like the fire .... in homes.

Even Paul ... even he states, "The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ? For we being many are one bread, and one body, for we are all partakers of that one bread." 1 Corinthians 10 : 16-17 Communion is another word for participation, as some Bible translators explain. No one can argue that women are not called to participate fully in Christ.

As I began to formulate what authority women have, and how they are given it, many questions arose : what about widows, single women, divorced women, single moms... can women give communion to men, etc. Too many hard questions arose even if history cites examples of female deacons and bishops in writing and in art. But isn't a woman an instrument of God, whether she has biological children or not ? Psalm 113 : 9 says, "He makes the barren woman to keep house, to be a joyful mother of children." A barren woman does not have biological children, but she can co-labor to give birth to spiritual children, i.e. born-again Christians !

"The Lord gives the command ; the women who proclaim the good tidings are a great host." Psaume 68 : 12 Surely, every woman, regardless of her status or vocation in the Body of Christ must not be prevented from shouting the praises of our Lord. How can we refuse any of God's promises to any of His children ? Women in the Body of Christ deserve to be given their voice back, and if any one of us should prevent any one of them, Jesus reassures us - "some of the Pharisees from among the multitude said unto him, Master, rebuke thy disciples. And he answered and said unto them, I tell you that, if these should hold their peace, the stones would immediately cry out." Luke 19 : 39-40

We gain nothing by establishing men's vocation at the expense of those of women. We should look to lift up those who are being cast aside.

Think about the family - it is the quintessential expression of the commandment which God gave us - to bear fruit and multiply. If this commandment is true for our biological bodies, then how much truer is it for our spiritual bodies ? ! By joining the man and woman together in spiritual authority, God is restoring His Kingdom, fulfilling the template for God's harmony to be expressed through His creation.

Psalm 128 portrays this vision so well : "Blessed is every one that feareth the Lord ; that walketh in his ways. For thou shalt eat the labour of thine hands ; happy shalt thou be, and it shall be well with thee. Thy wife shall be as a fruitful vine by the sides of thine house ; thy children like olive plants round about thy table. Behold, that thus shall the man be blessed that feareth the Lord. The Lord shall bless thee out of Zion ; and thou shalt see the good of Jerusalem all the days of thy life. Yea, thou shalt see thy children’s children, and peace upon Israel."