There has been a lot of debate within the Catholic Church – debates on topics ranging from the moral obligation to recycle, the death penalty, and priestly celibacy. But there is a fundamental difference between these topics and another frequently debated topic: the issue of women’s ordination. The ordination is different from other controversial topics, like priestly celibacy, because while the Church’s position on celibacy can technically change, it’s position on women’s ordination cannot. Unlike priestly celibacy, there is no room for debate or discussion amongst the Church on this: women can never be priests. It simply is not possible. This is not a question of just custom, but infallible truth. This is evident from Catholic Tradition, Sacred Scripture, and from Reason.
When it comes to the Catechism, the section on ordination is pretty clear: "Only a baptized man (vir) validly receives sacred ordination" (CCC 1577). This teaching is rooted in the example of the “Lord Jesus [who] chose men (viri) to form the college of the twelve apostles, and the apostles did the same when they chose collaborators to succeed them in their ministry” (CCC 1577). At this point one may be tempted to point out the example of the disciple Mary Magdalene, but one must note the difference between an apostle and a disciple. Christ did have female disciples, but the Apostles, who received a certain office from Christ Himself during the Last Supper, were all men and they only ordained men. The modern episcopacy is the direct successor to the original Apostles. At no point have women ever been ordained, because of the explicit example of Christ and His immediate successors. “The Church recognizes herself to be bound by this choice made by the Lord himself” (CCC 1577). The Catholic Church does not consider this mere human custom, but the Divine Will of God. “For this reason the ordination of women is not possible” (CCC 1577). This is not a question of the ordination of women being recommended or not, but it is simply not possible. As St. Thomas Aquinas writes in the Summa Theologica, “Wherefore even though a woman were made the object of all that is done in conferring Orders, she would not receive Orders, for since a sacrament is a sign, not only the thing, but the significance of the thing, is required in all sacramental actions” (ST Suppl. IIIae, Q. 39, Art. 1). In other words, someone who is not a validly ordained priest can lead a beautiful prayer service and say the exact words of consecration and do all of the steps properly and reverently, but even after all that, he would just be holding up a piece of bread and a cup of diluted wine, for he has done the external of the Sacrament without having the internal requirements that the externals signify. During the true Holy Sacrifice of the Mass the priest literally becomes Christ for the moment of the act of consecration, with Christ Himself saying the words, not the priest. For Christ to inhabit the person and perform this Sacrifice the person must have a masculine soul and body, for Christ borrows both of them when He performs the Sacrifice. It is thus clear from infallible Church Doctrine that the ordination of women is impossible.
When one opens up and reads his Bible, he will quickly discover this Doctrine is rooted in Sacred Scripture. Referring to the teaching and preaching within the Churches, St. Paul writes, “women should keep silent in the churches. For they are not permitted to speak, but should be subordinate, as even the law says” (1 Corinthians 14:34 RSV). This is partly meant to emphasize that women are not to have spiritual authority over a congregation as men. Again, from St. Paul: “Let the woman learn in silence with all submissiveness. I permit no woman to teach or to have authority over men; she is to keep silent.” (1 Timothy 2:11-12 RSV). The context of this passage is again referring to that of worshipping within Churches. Some may be tempted at this point to argue that St. Paul was sexist and outdated. They further discredit this statement by arguing that it is not Christ himself saying this, but an apostle of Christ, and saints can be wrong. But this is a grave misunderstanding: for the Church teaches the Doctrine of Biblical Inerrancy: “Since therefore all that the inspired authors or sacred writers affirm should be regarded as affirmed by the Holy Spirit, we must acknowledge that the books of Scripture firmly, faithfully, and without error teach that truth which God, for the sake of our salvation…” (CCC 107). It is impossible for anything within Sacred Scripture to be wrong. This means that the Letters of St. Paul, which are part of Sacred Scripture, cannot err, and to say St. Paul is wrong is to defy the Holy Spirit, or in other words, God. A faithful Christian cannot validly make an argument against inerrant Sacred Scripture.
Finally, the truth of this conviction is apparent through Reason. God created two sexes for a reason, and although they are both equal in dignity, they have different roles. This does not refer simply to manual labor, but to spiritual roles as well. Everyone has a different role while they are on Earth, for God did not create everyone to be equal in virtues, wealth, capabilities, or authority. Not everyone is called to be a priest: not even most men. To quote St. Thérèse of Lisieux, “The splendor of the rose and the whiteness of the lily do not rob the little violet of its scent nor the daisy of its simple charm. If every tiny flower wanted to be a rose, spring would lose its loveliness.” Those who deny this are following the example of Adam and Eve, trying to make themselves gods rather than submit to the one God. There are too many Eves and too many Adams these days, and far too few who emulate Jesus and Mary. Mary was not an apostle: she did not offer the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, but instead received the Eucharist from the hand of St. John. Yet she is now above him, and above all of creation as Queen of Heaven and Earth. She submitted herself to God’s Will as His “handmaid” (Luke 1:38 RSV). While Christ as a man was the one who offered the Bloody Sacrifice on the Cross, she was by the side of the Cross, supporting Him and performing the greatest “active participation” in history. Mary was humble and fulfilled her role perfectly by staying within God’s Will for her, and has thus been set at the highest of creation. The Saints become Saints by doing this, by emulating this complete submission to the Will of God. Both men and women mutually do this, and from it comes their role on Earth: this fulfillment of their role is the source of true happiness, with the reward being in the end Divine Bliss.
Before concluding, there is a significant counterargument to address. Some argue that certain Protestant denominations and the Anglican Church have “ordained” women and thus the Catholic Church ought to naturally follow. The reason why this is not so is simple: the Anglican Church and other Protestant sects are not protected by the Holy Spirit in the way that the Catholic Church is. The Holy Spirit which protects Christ’s Bride from making grave errors such as the ordination of women, meaning it will simply never occur, for God will prevent it. As such, there never has been nor will there ever be a valid woman priest. A woman cannot turn bread and wine into the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ. In conclusion, if you are a Catholic, you must subscribe to this Doctrine under the penalty of grave sin. Put more simply, don’t be an Eve, but be like Mary.