Y’know Siege, it’s funny you should mention this. I was raised Baptist, but have lately sort of wished I was Catholic (and actually, I’m slowly migrating that way) so that I could be a preist. I’ve always suspected that I wasn’t going to be the marrying type (though I want to), and now I’m 33 and single, and if I was Catholic, the Preisthood would sort of be the obvious place for me. Part of why I didn’t go into the ministry ten years ago (or now) is a sense that I would need the support and encouragement of a partner for that life, whereas I tend to think that a Preist/Nun has different support structures.
That’s part of it. I’m in my late 30’s, single, and, much as I’ve enjoyed sex when it’s been available, its importance seems to be very much over-emphasized in American culture. I could handle the celibacy aspects, and don’t see the requirement that priests be celibate as that big a deal (I am assuming that celibacy does allow for masturbation). In the Episcopal Church, I’m a full and equal member of my faith. In the Catholic Church, I wouldn’t be.
RexDart, I understand and appreciate the words you’ve written, and I do accept that they are an integral part of Catholic belief which will not change any time in the near future. While I understand that no lack of equality is explicitly intended, nevertheless, the appearance remains. That is why I will not change my faith in the near future (that and I don’t want to). I’ve been acolyte (aka alter boy/girl), lector, choir member, chalicist, and pretty much everything but priest in my church. I like the idea that in my church, the top job is still open to me.
Look, it’ s bad enough that I had to grow up with the awareness that I was the only kid in the class who couldn’t grow up to be President (that blasted “native-born citizen” clause)! At least give me one shot at a top job! 
CJ
You know, CJ, I’m thinking the native-born citizenship requirement is something that we should GD at some point. I don’t recall seeing it, and I’ve been frequenting GD for over a year.
I admit I’m quite sympathetic to Catholicism, as they seem to be the Christians with the greatest intellect, important philosophers like Aquinas and Augustine, and are the most liberal regarding stuff like evolution and other science issues, and the most asthetically pleasing Christian service I ever attended. I tend to cut them alot of slack. They have done more to fight injustice in the world than any other organization I know of. They continually show me the best of Christianity through their great works in this world.
The Catholic Church boasts one of the greatest women this world has ever seen, in Mother Theresa. One of the greatest human beings, period. I just don’t see that as being oppressive. An organization that brings us such a woman just can’t be all that bad. I don’t think anyone could honestly say that Mother Theresa was less an icon of the Catholic Church than any male figure. In fact she’s more well-known and influential than any Catholic in the entire world other than His Holiness Himself. She tread a different path than the males who felt called to do great works, but her path was equal in all ways to theirs, and superior in some ways.
Rexdart:
It sounds like you are content in the Catholic faith and that’s cool. I am just curious if you have ever attended an Episcopal service? I find Episcopalians to be even more liberal than Catholics and just as intelligent. The services are very similar.
Nuns (or sisters) and monks (or brothers) correspond to each other as male and female roles in the church. In each case a person enters a religious community to provide service (teaching, nursing, prayer, physical labor to support the community, etc.), generally taking vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience.*
The priesthood is a separate role, and in the RCC only men may enter. A man who has entered a religious order may be ordained to the priesthood instead of becoming a brother, but a woman may not choose a separate role from that of sister. (As a sister, a woman may rise to the authority of Superior or Abbess for a particular convent or order, but she cannot carry that authority outside her order in the way that a priest may become a bishop.)** A man may also be ordained as a secular priest (not a member of an order), in which case he is ordained to serve the local diocese, reporting to the bishop. He makes a promise of celibacy and obedience, but there is no condition of poverty implied (other than that his salary is currently around $16k in the U.S.). Priests may then be ordained bishops while women may not. Traditionally, only priests may be the administrators of parishes (thus controlling the funds, there) and only priests may preside at Mass or hear confessions. In these roles, priests have intrinsic powers and authority to which women cannot aspire in the Catholic Church.
*(There is also an extended community of people called the Third Order, in which a member may marry and need not forsake marriage, for example, but that is a bit off topic for this discussion.)
** Women have been taking greater positions of authority in the church, becoming adminstrators of hospitals, universities, etc. Not that long ago, the institution would have always appointed a man for the top position, even if the women actually created and built the institution. Those who oppose the ordination of women point to these roles and exclaim, “See how much women can do in the church!” Of course, that hardly answers the question regarding what they are still prevented from doing.
RexDart,
Lsura has it. I myself never had much more than an adolencent calling to a religious life - but I know a lot of nuns who really wanted to be priests. Nuns don’t take holy orders. They can’t perform sacrements. They have an important role within the church - but it is a similar role to that of the Brothers, not of priests.
I’m not one of those feminsts that thinks all things ARE equal or SHOULD BE equal - hey, I can bear a child and a guy can’t, we are pretty obviously different. But I am one who doesn’t see any reason to keep a woman from a calling to the priesthood because she happens to lack a winkie. I just don’t see why a woman couldn’t be a priest. Does the winkie give a direct line to God that I just don’t know about - having lacked one my entire life?
I appreciate the Church’s traditions, but I can’t participate in a religion that does not see me as an equal. Religion is simply too central. If I’m still around when the Catholic Church changes its mind, I might reconsider. (Nahh, jumped the whole Christian bandwagon a while ago)
(IMO, Eastern Orthodox beats the RCC hands down in terms of beauty and tradition. Stunning. But maybe that’s my familiarity with the RCC mass giving it a disadvantage.)