RE: RE: RE: WINNING EMAIL OF THE DAY ON THE LEFT'S FRENZY OVER POPE BENEDICT

Ruth Anne Adams opines:

As a happily practicing Catholic, I feel I must mention something in the whole "women priests" discussion. Catholics are no longer free to debate the point [John Paul II closed the discussion several years back]. It is, in essence, well settled policy. Here is the gist of the argument from a Biblical perspective. Jesus' apostles were 12 men whom he personally selected. He taught and traveled with men and women. The most excellent example of any Christian is Mary [His mother] who, prior to His incarnation declared herself "a handmaid of the Lord" and was addressed by Gabriel as "Full-of-Grace". She completely and utterly trusted in God and KNEW that her Son was indeed God-Incarnate. She NEVER abandoned him. She stood at the foot of His Cross when all but John of his men had abandoned Him in fear. YET...at the institution of the Eucharist [Last Supper] she was NOT present. Catholics see this as not only the First Communion, but also the first Ordination. Mary was not there. Had Christ wanted to "ordain" a woman, she [or any other female follower for that matter] was right there in Jerusalem to be ordained. He didn't do it. And yet, in the early days of the Church [most notably the 10 days between the Ascencion and Pentecost] it was Mary who held together that motley band, awaiting the gift of the Holy Spirit. Women are gifted and necessary in the Church. They are just not called to be priests.