Pastor's Corner, March 23, 2014

Dear Parishioners and Friends, 

Pope Francis has attracted a lot of attention since his election just over a year ago on March 13, 2013. Some people, especially in the secular media, thought that he would somehow change clear Church doctrine on several controversial and counter-cultural topics like the immorality of homosexual activity or abortion. Of course, the Pope has not and cannot change the truth. 

One area that Pope Francis has spoken about several times is the contribution that women make to society and the Church. In his Apostolic Exhortation Evangelii Gaudium (“Joy of the Gospel”) he mentions that society demands that the legitimate rights of women be respected and based “on the firm conviction that men and women are equal in dignity” (104). This, however, does not mean a change in the infallible teaching that women cannot be ordained priests. As the Holy Father says, “The reservation of the priesthood to males, as a sign of Christ the Spouse who gives himself in the Eucharist, is not a question open to discussion” (104). But the topic can be divisive if “sacramental power is too closely identified with power in general” (104). 

We must remember that our dignity derives from baptism and the special sacramental configuration of a priest to Christ does not in any way imply that somehow he is subjectively better than others. Functions in the Church do not favor superiority of some over others. The Pope concludes, “A woman, Mary, is more important than the bishops” (104). 

In Christ,

Msgr. Baker