The question of the ordination of women has been frequently raised in various places around the Western world. Christian Weisner puts the question in the context of human rights. He sees as an example of a persistent and grave violation of human rights “In the discrimination against women, who are denied ordination and thus access to leadership positions because of their gender.”
However, this statement shows both a misunderstanding of the essence of the priesthood and a misunderstanding of the reality of being a woman. If a man applied to a seminary saying that he wanted to be ordained so that he would have “access to leadership positions”, he would rightly be refused admittance. (Or if he was accepted to the seminary, then that seminary should be closed.) To desire to be ordained in order to exercise power is a blatant example of clericalism, and I hope that no sister of mine is infected with clericalism. The call to the priesthood is a vocation to service, and to a special kind of service: the service of empowering the faithful in their call to holiness and union with God. To desire to be ordained in order to give this service is a praiseworthy reason to be ordained. But does that alone justify ordaining women?
I believe that only the Church has the understanding of “the woman” and that we need radically to deepen and live that understanding.
For my full comment please see https://flemingtoncarmel.org/posts/the-place-of-women-in-the-church