Comments on: Church Allowed Women Priests for 1200 Years

By: Rt. Rev. Michael

Rt. Rev. Michael — Mon, 10 Mar 2008 12:26:55 +0000

So does this mean that the Eastern Orthodox (who allow their clergy to be married and separated from Rome in 1054) also covered up the history of female ordination?

And if the church for whatever reason began to hate women why have women saints? Especially Magdalene and Photini who are proclaimed by the Early Fathers and the Eastern Orthodox to be equal to the apostles but never ordained? If women we hated then wouldn’t these women have been stuck from the history as well?

By: Ray Dubuque

Ray Dubuque — Mon, 18 Feb 2008 21:40:15 +0000

Gary,
The fact that people are anxious to criticize your conclusions as unproven when they haven’t raised a finger to learn what you have written is proof that they aren’t interested in the truth. Don’t bother them with facts, their “minds” are made up!
As for Bill’s argument that “if this was so prevalent wouldn’t all of this have come out a lot earlier — and from several other more distinguished scholars at equally more distinguished universities?” there’s no connection between historical fact and current “conventional wisdom”. Look at how skeptical Catholics were about priestly pedophilia when rumors about it first emerged. And check out my http://JesusWouldBeFurious.Org/RCscandal to see how justified the Catholic scholar John Cornwell was in nicknaming Pius XII “Hitler’s Pope” because the Roman Catholic Church WAS “Hitler’s Church”.

By: Gary Macy

Gary Macy — Mon, 04 Feb 2008 23:17:41 +0000

In response to those who suggest my research was not well documented, I can only say that I provide full references to both the medieval texts and to modern scholars in my book. The book builds on the research of such famous scholars as Yves Congar, Pierre-Marie Gy, Christopher Brooke, and Jean Leclerq. So actually the material has come out earlier and by more famous scholars than I am. Not to make too radical a suggestion, but I suppose there is always the possibility of actually reading the book before dismissing it. I can understand why you wouldn’t want to buy it, but you can always borrow it from the library.

By: M.T. Hill

M.T. Hill — Fri, 25 Jan 2008 06:08:37 +0000

For those who say,”Why wasn’t this documented before the present time?” I have heard all of that before when I was in Catholic High School. If I remember correctly it was a response to the question, Why celibacy for priests? It stuck in my head all these many years because at the time just like the present one has to admit that everything revolves around money in this case inheritance and power. As for women, domination by men seems to boost their ego and they are frantic to keep women from intruding in their perceived territory. Such attitudes do not seem “Christlike” to me. M.T. Hill

By: Mike Drabik

Mike Drabik — Fri, 25 Jan 2008 00:13:06 +0000

I couldn’t have said better, Cato. Thanks for commenting.

By: Rev. Federico Higuera

Rev. Federico Higuera — Thu, 24 Jan 2008 23:12:47 +0000

It could be of much help if the above statements were documented

By: Bill

Bill — Thu, 24 Jan 2008 22:12:40 +0000

“Says Gary Macy.” Gee, let’s see, if this was so prevalent wouldn’t all of this have come out a lot earlier — and from several other more distinguished scholars at equally more distinguished universities. This reminds me of those entertainment shows on the History Channel. You know, the ones where there is only one guy who claims he knows the real truth about the pyramids at Giza, or is the only one who knows the true route the Hebrews took through the SInai out of Egypt. Gimme a break. These one-song “scholars” are a dime a dozen these days. Of course, readers of this blog eagerly and uncritically eat up anything that they sounds good to them. Rubbish.

By: Cato

Cato — Thu, 24 Jan 2008 21:13:57 +0000

What is freely affirmed is freely denied. Assent is problematic until specific and authentic sources are cited to support the aforesaid hypotheses. Many gnostic and dissident sects, that mimicked Christian practices, flourished in the early centuries of the Christian era and engaged in rituals not recognized by “Believers of the Way.” It is unfortunate that sexual politics has now been introduced into socio/historic/religious research, that only serves to emblazon emotions, “muddy the waters,” and confuse the untutored.

By: Claire

Claire — Thu, 24 Jan 2008 13:53:37 +0000

Wow! Maybe since this is a part of our history in the Church, there is hope for the future of women again in our Church. Isn’t it interesting how politics and power can wipe out something that could be so good? It gives me a little hope for the future of women in the Catholic Church……