There they go again
Twelve women from throughout the United States lie prostate before the altar while participating in a ceremony Monday, July 31, 2006, in which eight will proclaim themselves priests and four deacons in Pittsburgh. The ceremony won't be recognized by the Catholic church, which has a 2,000-year tradition of an all-male priesthood. Similar ceremonies conducted by the group Roman Catholic Womenpriests have been held before in other countries, and most of the participants have been excommunicated. It's the first time the group is holding a ceremony in the U.S. The ceremony took place on a riverboat cruise of the three rivers in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)
Well the AP caption is dead on when they say they will "proclaim themselves priests", because that is exactly what happened. Let us pray for these women who have truly left the Bark of Peter for a false ordination on a boat that does dinner cruises. In fact Peter's Bark is not worse and it's right.
This sham was performed by three German women "bishops". Which I find rather ironic. True ordinations are done by three bishops so as to ensure there is no doubt in reference to Apostolic succession and that a valid ordination occurred. The Trinitarian sign of it of course is also a factor, which is of course why the want to move away from Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
Again keep these women in your prayers so that they might see that obedience and love of the Church is the true path. That serving Christ is through humility and not seeking what you perceive as inequity of power. That they grow to understand that Christ choosing only men to be apostles is no more a slight than Jesus choosing only women to be mothers. That we all have are role in the Body of Christ and we can all call dibs on being the same part.
One note is that I think we should dispense with disparaging the physical appearance of these women who seek ordination. Let us rightly criticize their actions, their attitudes, and their disobedience. Let us hold high the truth with charity.
Update: A reader noticed that the AP story accidentally used prostate instead of prostrate. Pretty funny considering that only males have a prostate gland. I guess the next step if for these women to demand that they be given male organs also to ensure equity and inclusion.
Known as 
Jeff, I believe you want "prostrate" instead of "prostate"!
Even though their appearance is easy to mock, I'll stop, but first, why did they all give themselves the boys regular haicut? I thought the piont was to be WOMEN priests.
I will follow your lead and not judge their personal appearances, or their level of grooming for their important day, but I will point out the disparity of vestment color. Have they abandoned even the uniform observance of solemn feasts? Blue, green, white, designs - yuck.
Oopsies Jeff. My bad!
Are those little suns on the garb of one of the 'priestesses'?
+JMJ+
What in the world are they all laying on?? Personal towels??
(Looks like naptime at Romper Room)
Very colorful towels at that. Very unlike real ordinations, where prosrating oneself is an act of humility. Here they look like they're just having a comfortable nap.
When I went back to look at the nap-time picture, I noticed in the second picture that the "candidates" were receiving the laying-on of hands sitting down. I am not at all sure why some have claimed that there was proper form to the ersatz sacrament. And what was the intention? Induction into NOW?
These women know they do not believe what the Bishop and Church of Rome believe.
These women admit to having chosen to break Catholic Church laws that they judge to be unjust.
However, these women really have chosen a different faith.
So do I credit for the Whitesnake song reference (even though I thought it was Van Halen) which seems to have inspired the title of this post?
Lots of photographers in the background. I imagine many are family or friends who want to commemorate the moment but I am also assuming there are a lot of people from the press there. Nothing helps you feel better about leaving the Church more than a little bit of stardom.
Oy vey.
Kevin,
They look like crop circles to me. How appropriate, for a such a group of space cadets. Although the crop circles were faked, which is what this ceremony really is too.
Cruise and consecration. They didn't offer that on my cruise to Mexico. Seriously though. They are Loony.
Jeff, thanks for the reminder not to disparage their physical appearance, or else I might have succumbed to the temptation in a moment of weakness.
"Dana Reynolds, BA, is ... is a student of iconography and a certified labyrinth facilitator. She has a BS in Religious Studies and a Certificate of completion from the Hesychia School of Spiritual Direction."
One of the recently ordained, with the stunning qualification of "labyrinth facilitator." As a real seminarian, we study "phil-os-o-phy" and "the-ol-o-gy," not the construction or "facilitation" of labyrinths.
Secondly, I always knew those "liturgical planners" were a bad idea; I think it was two or so of the "ordinands" who were liturgical planners.
These people make me laugh. The sad thing is that I personally know people involved in this heresy.
Pray for an end to this heresy to Our Lady, Exterminatrix of Heresies!
This sham was performed by three German women "bishops". Which I find rather ironic. True ordinations are done by three bishops so as to ensure there is no doubt in reference to Apostolic succession and that a valid ordination occurred.
Even if the Pope, and the Prefects of the Congregation of the Doctrine of the Faith and the Congregation of Divine Worship performed these ordinations, they would be no more valid than if your local, validly ordained parish priest tried to consecrate oreos and milk into the Body and Blood of Jesus.
Women are invalid matter for the sacrament of Holy Orders.
Who covered the story? Comedy Central?
Hmmm... Judging by the amount of gray hair, these women all look to be Boomers--my generation. Y'know, the ones who took the reforms of VII to heights never imagined (at least I don't ~think~ he imagined them) by John XXIII. Or Paul VI.
Why don't young women want to be priests?
March- I was talking to my own parish priest about this when I was setting up DSL at his home. He told me in no uncertain terms, as the 55+ year-old that he is, that the womanpriest movement thing is dying out because they're all baby boomers who are getting old. He told me of a friend in seminary who went on to marry and have multiple children while fighting Church law from the outside...well, he didn't raise the kids in the Church...so now they have no interest in fighting Church law - they could care less about the Church. So, as these people pass away, God willing, so will their movement.
Now, may they experience conversion (or reversion) while they are still above ground.
Are those men priests who are sitting down in the first picture? Cant they form a straight line? Even the men can do that ( sarcasism)
These 50+ year old women seem to be fixated at the feminist 60's Take Vatican II to the Max stage. Snap out of it,ladies -- you're showing your age! Back then these were the gals who were burning their bras and calling every guy who opened a door for them a Male Chavinist Pig. In place of the Gregorian Chant I can hear them belting out in unison "I Am Woman Hear Me Roar."
A while ago (March 17, 2006) I wrote a moderately lengthy article titled "Women and Priesthood" in the Catholic youth forum in my (liberal) archdiocese: http://www.connect.org.nz/?sid=48 . There's been no replies in 4.5 months since I posted it. Please remember us in your prayers!
While keeping in mind your excellent comment, Jeff, about not disparaging their appearances, I've noticed that in any venue, women who attempt to take on a man's place generally start by trying to look like a man. Denying their femininity indeed!
Since these "womenpriests" want to "wear pants", I say,
"Liar! Liar! Pants on fire!"
I explain:
http://monkallover.blogspot.com/2006/08/romancatholicwomenpriestsorg-greets.html
Speaking of Comedy Central, I so hope that Steven Colbert is going to cover this event!
This ordination reminds me of this priest I found on the 'True Catholic' website. Claims that the Vatican hasn't had a true Pope for decades, that he's the Pope, let's see, Pius XIII.
I wonder if they included a vow of Obedience in the "ceremony"????? That would strike me as funny.
Actually the "True Catholic" site is hilarious. Check out the ordinations and consecrations section. Anti-pope Pius XIII, a priest, consecrates the man who consecrates him to bishop a week later! Seemingly a paradox of infinite recursion... I wonder how he justifies being able to consecrate bishops without being a bishop himself?
"Maybe if we consecrate each other at the same instant it will actually work next time!"
And why not women priests? I think women's ordination is way overdue.
Overdue for chucking into the basement of Things We Don't Need.
These women are wasting time. Akin to banging their heads against a wall that won't budge.
why didnt these women and be "in" like a guy for their ordination.... we would call them fr. skinhead.