“In Christ there is no Jew or Greek, slave or citizen, male or female. All are one in Christ Jesus” (Gal. 3:28). Despite this verse from the New Testament, the Catholic Church still denies women the right to be ordained as priests, one of the church’s most sacred roles. This should change; through baptism in Christ, distinctions between men and women disappear, so women should also have the opportunity to priestly ministry.
The Catholic Church contains a seven-level hierarchy arranged from order of authority, with the Pope at the top, followed by cardinals, archbishops, bishops, priests, deacons and the laity, or regular members of the Church. This hierarchical structure defines not only the roles within the Church, but also the spiritual authority held by each role. The Pope, for example, rules the Catholic Church, similar to how a king would rule a country and is the Head of State for Vatican City.
Cardinals are leading bishops and members of the College of Cardinals who participate in the Papal Conclave, electing the new Pope. Archbishops oversee archdioceses and guide bishops of a certain region. Bishops are ministers holding the full sacrament of holy orders. Priests either lead individual parishes or vow to religious orders. Deacons are students of the Catholic Church preparing for priesthood and have the ability to baptise, witness marriages and perform funerals. Finally, the laity make up the majority of Catholics and participate through worship, community service and other church activities.
All of these roles, except the laity, are reserved for men. Women are currently allowed to serve as abbesses, nuns, sisters and educators, but they are excluded from performing sacraments and holding positions of sacramental authority. Women are essential to churches, often leading religious orders and dedicating themselves to Catholic service and education.
Although nuns and sisters are able to participate toward charity and spiritual work, they cannot completely celebrate the Eucharaist, hear confessions or anoint the sick, since these sacraments would require for them to be ordained. This limitation begs the question, should the exclusion of women in Church leadership positions be upheld, or is it a tradition that has outlived its relevance? Amidst ongoing debates in the Catholic Church, it has remained clear that women’s exclusion from sacramental duties limits their potential to serve and leadership within the Church’s hierarchy.
The Bible itself includes many passages dictating that women had held leadership roles in early Christianity. “I commend to you our sister Phoebe, a deacon (diakonos) of the church at Cenchrea” (Rom. 16:1).
Women are still essential to the church because they are seen as symbols for motherhood and innocence; concerning priesthood, however, Adriana DePina (IV) says, “If someone values and loves God, they should be able to have that role.” There is a growing call among Catholics for gender equality within the Church. Many followers of Christ feel that ordainment should depend on their spiritual gifts and leading qualities, rather than gender, something that one is simply assigned at birth.
The Pontifical Yearbook published by the Vatican’s Central Office of Church Statistics has also revealed that the number of priests within the 3,041 ecclesiastical jurisdictions of the Catholic world has decreased in Europe, Oceania and America, while the general global Catholic population has risen. During a period where there may be a shortage of priests to spiritually guide followers, the Catholic Church should not continue to bar women from taking up this role.
Patrick McErlane (II) argues, “The priest acts in persona Christi — in the person of Christ — and Christ was a man,” supporting that since Christ was a man, so should priests. This reasoning, however, is challenged by those who believe that spiritual calling and devotion to God is just that: dedication to God and undefined by gender. Critics of this point argue that in persona Christi could also be used to symbolize Christ’s actions and missions rather than his physical attributes. Although Jesus chose male apostles, his company also consisted of women, and he was known for his inclusion of marginalized groups and women.
Sheldon Bol (IV) notes, “I feel that women do not really have much say in the Church — just to be in the Vatican or even Pope, you have to be a man. If someone has faith in God and believes in Catholic values, there is no reason they should not be allowed to be a priest.”
The exclusion of women from holding leadership opposes the core teachings of unity in Christ and undermines their value in the Catholic Church. The debate of women’s roles highlights a tension between tradition and progress. As the calls of inclusivity increase and grow louder, the Church should choose to adapt to reflect modern values of equality and justice, rather than uphold centuries-old custom. For the Church to remain relevant, it must open its sacred roles to all who are faithful, regardless of gender.