Tuesday, May 20, 2008

The married, woman priest issue again

A radio talk show host who I like made a common theology and logic error today. Since millions of people listen to that show I hasten to catch and correct the confusing mis-assumption.

He commented that Catholics point to "being like Jesus" (male) as being the reason women can't be priests. That is incorrect. That is what Catholics cite about why Catholic priests must be celibate and not marry.

Jewish priests, who married, could not be women. The Catholic prohibition against women priests is a direct continuation of the priesthood being reserved for males per God's original arrangement and instructions. So it is incorrect to point to the example of Jesus being a man and stating that this is why Catholics prohibit women from being priests. In fact it is God who gave the priesthood as a vocation to humans to the ancient Israelites who stated and created the process by which the priesthood is male only. The Apostles and disciples of Christ clearly understood that, being well lettered in their faith, and it would never occur to anyone to go against how the priesthood was mandated (no pun intended) by God to the faithful Israelites.

Understanding that, you can understand that with Jesus being a male who is consecrated to God through the Holy Ghost, Christianity added a layer in modeling to Christ's example, which is to mandate celibacy and not being married. Christianity through the model of Jesus retained the priesthood as being male, as being the conductors of sacrifice to God (and thus being consecrated), and added the requirement that they not be married as a result of the example of Christ. The prohibition against women is continuity of the Jewish priesthood being for males only as God instructed.

Before you ask, I'll answer the question about reform Jews naming women rabbis. Rabbis are teachers and preachers, not priests. Jews no longer sacrifice to God. Catholics continue to sacrifice to God, the sacrifice of the Mass, as Jesus instructed them to do. Therefore the person who conducts sacrifice to God must be a single, celibate consecrated male. While God does not state the reasons if you read and understand the Old Testament you understand that the priest who conducts sacrifice is entirely consecrated to God for that purpose. Marriage was allowed for the same reason that there was polygamy, because survival of civilized humanity was still precarious and the protection of a male of many females and their children was necessary. So it is understood that an Israelite priest must also be a father and husband in order to ensure continuation of the people. At the time when Jesus arrived as Messiah for the New Covenant the priest continues to be the performer of sacrifice to God, but his role as father and husband is not essential to survival of the people. Jesus, preceeded by John the Baptist, heralded the Christian priesthood whereby the priest is in fact and in deed, through not being married, and being celibate, 100 percent dedicated to God's service in sacrifice.