The Anglicans have gone and done it. They've voted to allow women bishops the UK. Now I understand that NZ already has an Anglican woman bishop. Not sure if we have an openly "gay" one such as the US does, though.
Now, apparently voting for women bishops is supposed to be the straw that breaks the camels back for the more traditionalist Anglicans to come on board with Rome. The TAC already has asked the Vatican for this last year and as yet nothing is public yet.
So, what is the issue with women bishops you may ask?
Well, if the Church was a completely human institution, then women bishops would be no big deal. However, the Church is not a human institution. It's a divine institution that human beings co-operate with. Therefore, there are certain limitations on what can and can't be done, and a mechanism in place to prevent error on such a catastrophic scale.
The Anglicans no longer have this mechanism, that is why they vote on things that should not be changed. Actually, "mechanism" is not really the correct word. I do remember reading about one pope or another during the period of the Reformation who was about to issue a decree agreeing with some of the reformer's demands, when the "mechanism" kicked in. He died before issuing the decree. And no, it wasn't a mysterious Opus Dei monk who knocked him off, that's Dan Brown's imagination running away with him.
So, why not women bishops? I better answer the question this time rather than waffling off. The answer is because the founder of the Church on earth instituted only male priests - the 12 Apostles. He had many women to choose from, the pagans of the time also had women priests so it wouldn't have been unusual to choose female Apostles, yet He did not do so. He chose only men. And since only men can become priests and only priests can become bishops, therefore no bishop can be a woman.
Related Link: Church risks split as Synod votes to ordain women bishops ~ The Independant, UK
Women Priests — No Chance ~ CERC
Now, apparently voting for women bishops is supposed to be the straw that breaks the camels back for the more traditionalist Anglicans to come on board with Rome. The TAC already has asked the Vatican for this last year and as yet nothing is public yet.
So, what is the issue with women bishops you may ask?
Well, if the Church was a completely human institution, then women bishops would be no big deal. However, the Church is not a human institution. It's a divine institution that human beings co-operate with. Therefore, there are certain limitations on what can and can't be done, and a mechanism in place to prevent error on such a catastrophic scale.
The Anglicans no longer have this mechanism, that is why they vote on things that should not be changed. Actually, "mechanism" is not really the correct word. I do remember reading about one pope or another during the period of the Reformation who was about to issue a decree agreeing with some of the reformer's demands, when the "mechanism" kicked in. He died before issuing the decree. And no, it wasn't a mysterious Opus Dei monk who knocked him off, that's Dan Brown's imagination running away with him.
So, why not women bishops? I better answer the question this time rather than waffling off. The answer is because the founder of the Church on earth instituted only male priests - the 12 Apostles. He had many women to choose from, the pagans of the time also had women priests so it wouldn't have been unusual to choose female Apostles, yet He did not do so. He chose only men. And since only men can become priests and only priests can become bishops, therefore no bishop can be a woman.
Related Link: Church risks split as Synod votes to ordain women bishops ~ The Independant, UK
Women Priests — No Chance ~ CERC
You left out the bit where Jesus created the post of "bishop."
ReplyDeleteThat'll take a bit of explaining, PM. But basically, look to whom He took with Him when He was transfigured and when He was praying in the Garden at the start of His Passion.
ReplyDeletePM
ReplyDeleteI never knew you cared!
Its interesting, sitting on the side lines, watching these events play themselves out.
ReplyDeleteOn the one hand, organisations constantly evolve, buit on the other, if an organisation claims to be in posession of eternal truths then there must be a limit on how much it can change.
An interesting letter on this topic in today's Press basically making the comparision with a rugby club being infiltrated by soccer players who then want to turn rugby in to soccer.
That'll take a bit of explaining, PM. But basically, look to whom He took with Him when He was transfigured and when He was praying in the Garden at the start of His Passion.
ReplyDeleteThat's right Milt - Jesus chose to take only male Jewish fishermen with him during these important times in his life and that's why only male Jewish fishermen can become priests.
...and not facetiousness pencil-necked biostatisticians.
ReplyDelete"...that is why they vote on things that should not be changed."
ReplyDeleteWhat a joke, i didn't know the Lord was elected. If they vote that the Jesus isn't the son of God, does that make it so. Forgive us arrogant twits dear Lord for we know not what we do.