Tough QuestionsNov. 22nd, 2009

Announcements• We will meet next Sunday as usual• Mission trip location change

– Orlando!!!• No Bible Study next week• Play practice after meeting tonight

The question so many have asked…..

Why can’t women be priests?

• Couldn’t women give great homilies?–YES!

• Would some people prefer to confess to a women instead of a man?–YES!

Explaining why• Who established the Priesthood?

–JESUS

• Who does Jesus ordain as priests?– His apostles, all of whom were men

• Jesus established an all male priesthood.

Digging Deeper again• Was Jesus afraid to break traditions?

– Not at all.

• Did Jesus only ordain men due to the customs of his day?– NO, He was not afraid to break Jewish

traditions.

Was Jesus a woman hater?

Quote of the Day• ......the fact that the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother

of God and Mother of the Church, received neither the mission proper to the Apostles nor the ministerial priesthood clearly shows that the non-admission of women to priestly ordination cannot mean that women are of lesser dignity, nor can it be construed as a discrimination against them. Rather, it is to be seen as the faithful observance of a plan to be ascribed to the Wisdom of the Lord of the Universe.

Who Said it?

John Paul II

Understanding why• But why didn’t Jesus ordain women as

priests?

– Lets try to understand

Jesus• Jesus was a…..?

–Man

• Remember, a priest performs the sacraments in persona Christi– In the person of Jesus Christ

The Church• We are the Church, and the Church

is…….?– Female

– The Bride of Christ

Why is the Church feminine?• Because she is like a mother.

• Like a mother with her child, she nourishes us within herself–Feeds us the Sacraments–Provides us with a community to grow in

Marriage• Its all about marriage

– Jesus marries His Bride, the Church – Priests marry the Church in the example of

Jesus

Men and Women• God made us men and women

– Equal– But not the same

• Men and Women compliment each other.– Make each other whole– And together we follow God’s plan.

Traditional Perspective• We have been discussing the

philosophy of the priesthood, as well as men and women.

• For the traditional/historical perspective on the priesthood see our Facebook page or the blog!–stmarksym.wordpress.com

And Now….• Think of a question you may have about

the Catholic Church, or of a question that someone has asked you about your faith and you couldn’t answer.

• Write down your question(s) on an index card.

• When you’re finished fold it and place it in the CHRISTmas Stocking