Sr. Vassa: There's no ontological impediment to priestesses
Is the male-only priesthood a discipline or essential to the nature of being a priest? Sr. Vassa (again unflinchingly taking up a contentious topic by climbing up the ladder to the highest platform and then jumping into the deep end head first) dives right in and says there is no reason beyond personal preference to not have female clergy. You know, when people ask me about women in priesthood, they say, 'Sister, why can't women be priests?' And I say, 'Women CAN be priests. We don't WANT them to be priests.' Because you see, God can do anything, and the Church, by divine authority, uh, can do anything, but, the Church doesn't want to - and that's a legitimate reason. What I don't like is when we TRY to pretend that there are other reasons for this, because it's legitimate not to want something, and there are reasons not to want this - right? - but, we shouldn't pretent that there's some... reason, that, for example, the maleness...
What a magnificent interview> His Grace speaks with love , compassion, and authority in the midst of so much suffering.
ReplyDeleteDitto to the above. Praise God that there are Christian leaders, such as this good Bishop, rightly the delight of his community in the UK, who share such wisdom and demeanor in Christ with the public! Would that the confused politicians in the USA, who shoot from the hip, out of their misguided zeal, at anything that doesn't line up with their shallow presuppositions about Egypt.
ReplyDeleteThe TV interviewer himself was shocked at the depth of sense and love that this leader of the Copts evidenced. His words, the Bishop's, were like oil of frankincense, upon the wounded ears of the multitudes who have had to put up with the hateful clacker and clammer and bitterness of the media.
Do what you can to have him and other godly leaders of the Coptic Church back for more, at the opportune time.
KL Hoessel, Michigan