The following quote is from an LA Times article covering the priesthood ordination and possible excommunication of fifteen Catholic women:
Presiding over some of the ordinations were three European women recently consecrated as bishops in secret ceremonies allegedly led by five bishops who remain in good standing with the church. The identities of the male bishops, who wish to remain anonymous to avoid excommunication, were notarized and then placed in a bank vault, the women priests said.
Though the first seven European women to claim the priesthood were swiftly excommunicated by the Vatican four years ago, church officials in the United States have so far only threatened to cut American women off from the sacraments, which would, according to Catholic doctrine, place their souls in peril.
3 responses so far ↓
1 Miko // Aug 21, 2006 at 7:16 am
I’m curious (& slightly ignorant): why is this an issue for Mormon women to take note of? Is there a movement of Mormon women attempting to get ordained (or the LDS version of that)? It’s women like these new bishops & priests who make me think that I may be able to reconcile with the Catholic church in the future. I encourage Mormon women to stand up, too!
2 John // Aug 22, 2006 at 9:25 pm
In retrospect, I could’ve included a bit of commentary on this one. Both the Catholic and hte LDS churches deny the priesthood to women. As far as I know, there is no comparable movement within Mormonism to surreptitiously bequeath the priesthood to women.
The iconoclast in me would think it really cool if some Mormon leaders secretly ordained women.
I hope we live to see women ordained in both traditions.
3 Miko // Aug 23, 2006 at 7:31 am
hear, hear