Controversial priest takes on Vatican

"The priest in the Catholic Church plays the role of Jesus during the Mass. Jesus was male so the priest must be male." Jesus was also Palestinian, died in his early thirties, and very likely had curly hair. By this logic, in order to be a Catholic priest and "represent" Jesus appropriately, a person should not only be male, but also Middle Eastern in ethnicity, no older than 33, and curly-headed in appearance. If it were that important that a priest "look like" Jesus, would not a curly-headed young Palestinian woman be a better bet, really, than a bald, elderly white man (just for example)? Is there really so much ontological difference between people because of their gender, and what makes that difference so much more insurmountable than any other difference? Can it be that the choice to exclude women from the priesthood has far more to do with the fears and prejudices of the men in power than with the physical "appearance of Jesus"?? Can it really be true that a man is the "image of Christ" in some particular way that is closed to a woman? If so, is a male's baptism somehow different than a female's? There are some bizarre theological gymnastics going on here. Galatians 3:28 reads, "There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free person, there is not male and female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus." That is to say, according to Paul, baptism removed divisions among people that were based upon power imbalance. The early Church practiced this radical equality: many early Church communities were led by women, who presided at the Eucharistic table, preached, taught, prophesied, and many were martyred for their efforts. Before we can get a grasp on the topic of women's ordination, we need to a) learn our own history, b) learn to make a bit more logical sense with our theology, and c) let go of our own absurd prejudices and fears. After all, Paul reminds us, in our baptism "we are one." Just waiting for my Church to catch up...

After reading some of these comments, I can't help myself to comment. We are talking about women becoming Priests: NOT JESUS. Women can preach just as well as a man. She sometimes has more compassion than a male minister or priest does. As a Catholic, I don't see what is wrong with a woman becoming a priest. She teaches the call of God. Again we have people setting guidelines to what should be and what shouldn't be. Everyone has their own opinion. You have to wonder, would we have so many sexual misconducts among the priesthood if they were allowed to marry. The Catholic church holds themselves as superior over all others. Has anyone stopped to think this for a moment: God is the father of Jesus. Now wasn't Mary, a wife of Joseph..So isn't that adultery. Doesn't matter if she was the Virgin Mother, she was still married to another. So what does that make God?

The priest in the Catholic Church plays the role of Jesus during the Mass. Jesus was male so the priest must be male. I wonder what the secular world would think if a movie director had a female play the role of Superman in a movie. Women have always played an important role in the church. Throughout history it has been women that have played a huge role in the formation of the priest in their roles as teachers in Catholic schools. We all have our roles in life and if we try to change those we cause disorder.

I was raised a Baptist (where women ministers exist, although I never witnessed any) and converted in 1987 to being a Catholic. I am very, very happy and rooted as a Catholic. And I am a woman! I understand fully the "why" of the issue of non ordination for women. There is a DIFFERENCE between "ministers" of other faiths and a PRIEST of the Catholic Church. Not even Lutheran or Episcopal faiths are the same as Catholic, even though their ceremonies may "look" the same. There is NOTHING equal or the same as the MASS. And THAT is why there is this issue. I have no problem with it. I am a 44-year-old single woman. I have never had any instance of male chauvanism (sp?) directed to me. I have seen, as well, instances of clergy abuse as a Baptist. What I have also witnessed are CONSISTENT anti-Catholic attacks in the media and disinformation taught to those of other faiths down through the ages. I have been a recipient of those attacks and snide comments by members of my former Baptist congregation, as well as by people in my neighborhood and in my family and community. Cast the first stone, anybody??? This is all so sad!

I think it is time for the Church to realize women are equal to men and give them the opportunity to lead a congregation. I support Fr. Bourgeois. Coming from the West Coast, there have been priests who have voice their support but haven't been threatened with excommunication. What's up Kansas? Yes I'm Catholic.

I believe it's OK to ask Fr. Bourgeois not to participate in women's ordination ceremonies as a condition for remaining in the priesthood. I don't believe it's OK to ask him to lie about his beliefs on the subject, especially since these beliefs are widely shared by his fellow priests according to many polls that have been taken over the years. This is why 200 priests signed a petition supporting Fr. Bourgeois. I'm a proud Catholic too but I think it's time for the Church to come into the 21st century as far as how it treats women. The stained glass ceiling, as it has been called, is no longer acceptable.

Moses, Aaron, Abraham , twelve disciples, come on people look at history a church that is over 2000 yrs. old and very strong has faced many difficulties and continues strong and alive. This church can be traced all the way back in time, and can say this is the church that Jesus started. This priest is wanting his own,selfish way.

What a flake!!! As for the raping of anyone, it is totally and absolutely wrong regardless of your belief in a church.. I'm a Catholic and proud of it, however any priest who has done this should be punished to the fullest. The Catholic Church is not the only church who have swept such wrongs under the rug, does it make it right, hell no!!!!!!!!!!!

@yolanda54 Might want to step into this century and leave the barbaric made up bs of 2000 years ago. Oh look people going to muse about what some guy some other people wrote about, with not one jot of evidence said person ever existed. But I'm sure you all know exactly what "he" wanted and said. Because it matches exactly what you want.

A few thoughts: Father was excommunicated in 2008. Not mentioned in your story. The Church promulgated an infallible teaching on the subject of exactly why the Catholic Church cannot ordain women as priests, in 1994. Likewise not mentioned. Father had been given a chance to recant. That is the proper word. Merriam-Webster defines as "to withdraw or repudiate (a statement or belief) formally and publicly." Father is in error, and must recant as part of a return to grace. Or he can remain outside the Church, where he is now. But he cannot perform those sacramental duties intrinsic to being a Roman Catholic priest, as a direct result of his inability to follow his vow of obedience. Please, do some research when reporting. A better headline here might have been "Former priest rejects 2000 Years of God's Law For His Own."