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...
Thanks so much for posting this! I knew there was a church there, but it was great to see it on video. I'll be sharing this on my blog too.
ReplyDeleteVery wonderful. Are there any other churches down there of other denominations?
ReplyDeleteNow that they know how it leaks can't they repair it?
Thanks for the video. I had read about this but seeing a video is so much better!
I found a list here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Religion_in_Antarctica
ReplyDeleteIt does look like this chapel is by far the most beautiful one even though it's practical for the climate/wind.