Cardinals Christoph Schönborn and Gerhard Ludwig Müller. (Images: CNA)
Shortly after Pope Francis opposed the possibility of an ordained female diaconate, two German-speaking cardinals publicly have said that only men can be ordained to the priesthood.
“Women cannot be called to this office,” Cardinal Gerhard Ludwig Müller told Swiss portal kath.ch on June 7. “The priest represents Christ in his manhood.”
The German cardinal, who held the role of prefect of the Congregation — now Dicastery — for the Doctrine of the Faith from 2012 to 2017, stressed the theological and doctrinal underpinnings of this view, saying the prohibition of women from priestly ordination is deeply ingrained in the sacrament itself.
Müller, who taught dogmatic theology at Munich’s Ludwig Maximilian University, emphasized “the fundamental equality of all people in their personal relationship with God,” be they man or woman.
Just like “a man cannot become a mother and a woman cannot become a father,” it is only men who are called to the priesthood, Müller said, according to CNA Deutsch, CNA’s German-language news partner.
“The vocation comes from God. One would have to complain to God himself that he created human beings as man and woman.”
Echoing the words of Pope Francis about the nature of the priesthood in Querida Amazonia, Müller emphasized that the “Church cannot be represented by a man because she is female and Mary, the Mother of God, is her archetype. It is in the nature of the sacrament that only a man can represent Christ in relation to the Church.”
The German prelate’s pronouncements follow those of Cardinal Christoph Schönborn, archbishop of Vienna, CNA Deutsch reported.
In a sermon at ITI Catholic University in Austria on June 1, Schönborn said he was “deeply convinced that the Church cannot and must not change this, because it must keep the mystery of women present in an unadulterated way.”
“We were all born of a woman. This will always be reflected in the mystery of the Church.”
Like Müller, Schönborn affirmed St. John Paul II’s teaching that the ordination of women would violate a fundamental ecclesiological principle.
In 1994, Pope John Paul II, citing the Church’s traditional teaching, declared in the apostolic letter Ordinatio Sacerdotalis:
“Wherefore, in order that all doubt may be removed regarding a matter of great importance, a matter which pertains to the Church’s divine constitution itself, in virtue of my ministry of confirming the brethren (cf. Lk 22:32) I declare that the Church has no authority whatsoever to confer priestly ordination on women and that this judgment is to be definitively held by all the Church’s faithful.”
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A view of the separation wall between Israel and the Palestinian Territories from behind a window in the Comboni Sisters’ house in East Jerusalem. / Credit: Marinella Bandini
Jerusalem, Feb 17, 2024 / 06:00 am (CNA).
The Comboni Sisters have been living on the border of East Jerusalem since 1967. Running along the border of their property is a wall, constructed by the Israelis in 2009, dividing the village of Bethany/al-Eizariya — renowned as the site of the resurrection of Lazarus. The sisters’ residence remains on the Israeli side, while the church and the tomb of Lazarus are on the Palestinian side, on the other side of the wall.
“For us, the passage from Scripture that says ‘in Christ the wall of separation between peoples has been broken down’ is very powerful [Eph 2:14], especially when there is a physical wall in front of us that clearly indicates this separation,” Sister Anna Maria Sgaramella, provincial councilor and coordinator of the Middle East Zone for the Comboni Sisters, told CNA.
Sister Anna Maria Sgaramella, provincial council and coordinator of the Middle East Zone for the Comboni Sisters. Credit: Marinella Bandini
Sgaramella arrived in Jerusalem for the first time on Sept. 26, 2000. The very next day, the second intifada — a major uprising by Palestinians against Israeli occupation — erupted. She witnessed the siege of the Basilica of the Nativity in Bethlehem, where she taught theology.
Later, she was transferred to Egypt, where in 2011, she witnessed the uprising known as the “Arab Spring.”
Since 2013, Sgaramella has permanently returned to Jerusalem and now faces another long and bloody conflict. “I have always been struck by the deep sense of hope and determination to move forward among the Palestinian people. With this war, I see it weaker; people are more exhausted,” she said.
A view of the separation wall between Israel and the Palestinian Territories from the terrace of the Comboni Sisters’ house in East Jerusalem. The wall, constructed by the Israelis in 2009, runs along the border of their property, dividing the village of Bethany/al-Eizariya in two, believed to be the site of the miracle of the raising of Lazarus. The sisters’ residence remains on the Israeli side, while the church and the tomb of Lazarus are on the other side of the wall. Credit: Marinella Bandini
There are currently six Comboni Sisters in Jerusalem and each is involved in a specific ministry. They usually come together for morning Mass and evening vespers as well as for meetings and reflection. Their community house is open to religious individuals seeking periods of study or discernment and serves as a center of spirituality for both the congregation and the local Church. The sisters host educational workshops and spiritual exercises as well as welcome pilgrims.
The Comboni Sisters in Jerusalem in a recent photo at the Jordan River. The Comboni Sisters’ community in Jerusalem currently consists of six sisters and each is involved in a specific ministry. Credit: Photo courtesy of Sister Anna Maria Sgaramella
Sgaramella shared with CNA what it’s like to live on the border.
“With the construction of the wall, we found ourselves in the middle, between Palestinians and Israelis,” she explained. “The Palestinians attempt to bypass the wall — especially to pray at the Dome of the Rock — while the Israelis try to repel them in an endless game.”
“Being in the middle is a physical position that has also become a spiritual one,” Sgaramella continued. “We had to reflect and decided to ‘stay in the middle,’ between these two peoples, to serve as a bridge between them. By placing ourselves in the middle, we listen to the injustice faced by the Palestinians and also to the fears of Israeli families.”
For this reason, the religious community has chosen to maintain a small presence in the Palestinian area. Two sisters reside in an apartment beyond the wall, about 100 feet from the Comboni Sisters’ residence.
The exterior of the Comboni Sisters’ house in East Jerusalem where the Comboni Sisters have been living since 1967. Credit: Marinella Bandini
“We desired to stay and share the lives of those people and accompany the small remaining Christian community there. Every time they need to reach the community, they have to travel 18 kilometers [about 11 miles] passing through the Israeli checkpoint,” Sgaramella explained.
The sisters do not do this simply in the spirit of altruism, explained Sgaramella, who is also involved in ecumenical and interreligious dialogue. “We understood from the beginning that being in the middle comes at a cost. It often means getting hit from both sides. On one hand, there are stones and Molotov cocktails from the Palestinians that land on our property; on the other hand, we are under the smoke of tear gas launched in response by the Israelis,” she said.
One incident happened the night of Oct. 6, just hours before the Hamas attack on Israel. Some Molotov cocktails landed on the synthetic grass in the part of the property that houses the kindergarten, causing a fire — the signs of which are still visible today. The fire destroyed the grass, playground equipment, and blackened the recently painted wall.
The exterior of the kindergarten, housed on the Comboni Sisters’ property. In the background is the separation wall that was erected on the edge of the Comboni Sisters’ property in 2009.
The kindergarten is a work that the Comboni Sisters have been carrying out since their arrival and today it serves as an important point of connection with the surrounding community. This significance has grown, especially after the construction of the wall.
“The presence of the kindergarten has never been questioned, neither with the wall nor with the war,” said Sgaramella, who is the director. The kindergarten is attended by approximately 40 children, all of whom are Muslims, divided into two classes. Formally, it is under the jurisdiction of the Palestinian Ministry of Education. “It is a project that meets the needs of the people; furthermore, episodes of violence never occur during the day when the children are present,” she added.
Sister Anna Maria Sgaramella of the Comboni Sisters talks with the children in one of the kindergarten classes hosted at their home in East Jerusalem. The presence of the kindergarten has never been questioned, said Sgaramella, the director. Credit: Marinella Bandini
Every morning, the children begin with a prayer. “We tell the parents right from the start,” Sgaramella explained. “It’s a prayer of thanksgiving for what God has created, for the day, for life, a blessing for parents, neighbors, friends, and also for children who suffer. We pray for peace in the world and in this country.”
Regarding the families, she shared: “There is great trust and respect. They usually choose to send their children here, especially for moral education and English-language instruction.”
Most of the children come from East Jerusalem, but some also come from al-Eizariya. One of the two teachers, Nihal Hashmime, who is also the vice director, has to pass through the checkpoint every day to get to work.
“With the war,” the sister told CNA, “we faced some educational challenges because initially, some children were absent. The work we do with them is to impart certain values, such as peace, friendship, love, and respect for differences.”
Play is also an important aspect. “Children here do not find toy weapons, and they are not allowed to bring them from home,” Sgaramella said.
“Our attempt in education and all other activities is to break down this wall that leads to seeing the other as an enemy,” Sgaramella said. “Sometimes it is difficult to recognize the universality of salvation. We know that Jesus died for everyone, but in certain conflict-ridden contexts, it is challenging to acknowledge the other as a brother. Personally, the field of teaching theology provides me with the space to build bridges among believers. Because in every religion, there are sincere believers seeking truth.”
Washington D.C., Jul 5, 2023 / 15:10 pm (CNA).
The Latin patriarch of Jerusalem condemned the Israeli government and urged peace and dialogue between both sides after the Israel Defe… […]
11 Comments
When Pope Francis was asked if he would approve a female diaconate, he replied, and signaled (?): “If it is deacons with holy orders, no.”
And what purpose or foreseeable (!) consequence of crypto-deaconesses who are not ordained?
In the secular domain, gradualist accommodation is what gave us “civil unions,” not as the endgame but as the halfway house to “gay marriage.” So, within the Church, instead of the oxymoron gay marriage (now crypto-blessed as “couples”), we’ll surely get non-ordination of deaconesses—BUT with a different redefinition and a special “mission”? Not a linear half-way house, but a niche?
Their non-ordained NICHE—perhaps under archdeaconess Jeannine Gramick and the coupled photo-op James Martin—will it be to “informally, non-liturgically and spontaneously” administer crypto-blessings to irregular “couples”?
This controversial and divisive role OFFLOADED from the ordained priesthood? And, resulting in a parallel church-within-a-Church? As a local option, of course, and within a polyhedral Church! Very synodal. And, almost Islamic—a gay “dhimmi” within the big-tent and formerly coherent Catholic Church. Universal disunity as a Fernandezian accommodation of der Synodal Weg…Hegelian ideology in action, masquerading as a development of doctrine…
SUMMARY: the German Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel smiles—thesis, antithesis, and synthesis!!!
Everytime y’all bleatqbout young women exiting the church in droves, remember this.
Without ordained women y’all are nailing your own coffin shut. If driving women away from the church is your end game, congratulations you’re doing a smash up job!!! 🥳
Once the women all leave, the men won’t be too far behind. But it seems that’s what all of the old Catholics want – no future for their children or grandchildren.
“Without ordained women y’all are nailing your own coffin shut.”
Not true. In fact, quite false.
Exhibit A: “The Church of England has lost a fifth of people between 2019 and 2022, and over 40% of regular worshippers since the year 2000.”
Exhibit B: “In February 2022, the Vatican released statistics showing that in 2020 the number of Catholics in the world increased by 16 million to 1.36 billion. That means that 17.7% of the world’s population is Catholic.”
Exhibit C: “The topline numbers continue to show a church experiencing gradual long-term membership decline, much like other mainline Protestant denominations. The Episcopal Church’s tally of baptized members dropped just below 1.6 million in 2022, down 21% from 2013.”
Exhibit D: “Statistically, is Africa the fastest-growing continent when it comes to Catholicism? According to figures released by the Vatican in October last year covering the year 2021, Africa has 256 million Catholics, representing about 18% of the continent’s population. That is 5.2 million more than in 2020.”
What church that ordains females are young women flocking to today? Every woman-ordaining mainline denomination I know of is diminishing in numbers.
If the Catholic Church looked at that as a business model, it certainly wouldn’t be one to follow. It’s a path to extinction.
Cardinal Schönborn said he was “deeply convinced.” Whew! His feelings could have gone either way. How nice that his Eminence has emotionally embraced this teaching of Christ!
I have enormous sympathy for your point of view. I am not in favour of women priests but I do take your.point about driving women away. There is so much wrong with the church at this moment. The priesthood feels riddled with gayness the Pope regularly talks out of both sides of his mouth, he uses gutter language. He has gone out of his way to heap.praise on a book extolling the gay life. Abuse victims seek justice and do not find it. Abusers seem to be lauded. Genuinely the issue of women priests is not top billing.
Steph, You should learn about the thousands of young women who love the Church and work in many evangelizeing ministeries and who are embracing religious vocations. They are a testament to joyful love of Christ and His Church.
For Heaven’s sake, dear Fathers: spell it out!
The Mass is the Sacrifice of the New Adam for the New Eve! It is a foretaste of the Wedding Feast of the Lamb! It’s marital, nuptial!
When Pope Francis was asked if he would approve a female diaconate, he replied, and signaled (?): “If it is deacons with holy orders, no.”
And what purpose or foreseeable (!) consequence of crypto-deaconesses who are not ordained?
In the secular domain, gradualist accommodation is what gave us “civil unions,” not as the endgame but as the halfway house to “gay marriage.” So, within the Church, instead of the oxymoron gay marriage (now crypto-blessed as “couples”), we’ll surely get non-ordination of deaconesses—BUT with a different redefinition and a special “mission”? Not a linear half-way house, but a niche?
Their non-ordained NICHE—perhaps under archdeaconess Jeannine Gramick and the coupled photo-op James Martin—will it be to “informally, non-liturgically and spontaneously” administer crypto-blessings to irregular “couples”?
This controversial and divisive role OFFLOADED from the ordained priesthood? And, resulting in a parallel church-within-a-Church? As a local option, of course, and within a polyhedral Church! Very synodal. And, almost Islamic—a gay “dhimmi” within the big-tent and formerly coherent Catholic Church. Universal disunity as a Fernandezian accommodation of der Synodal Weg…Hegelian ideology in action, masquerading as a development of doctrine…
SUMMARY: the German Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel smiles—thesis, antithesis, and synthesis!!!
Everytime y’all bleatqbout young women exiting the church in droves, remember this.
Without ordained women y’all are nailing your own coffin shut. If driving women away from the church is your end game, congratulations you’re doing a smash up job!!! 🥳
Once the women all leave, the men won’t be too far behind. But it seems that’s what all of the old Catholics want – no future for their children or grandchildren.
“Without ordained women y’all are nailing your own coffin shut.”
Not true. In fact, quite false.
Exhibit A: “The Church of England has lost a fifth of people between 2019 and 2022, and over 40% of regular worshippers since the year 2000.”
Exhibit B: “In February 2022, the Vatican released statistics showing that in 2020 the number of Catholics in the world increased by 16 million to 1.36 billion. That means that 17.7% of the world’s population is Catholic.”
Exhibit C: “The topline numbers continue to show a church experiencing gradual long-term membership decline, much like other mainline Protestant denominations. The Episcopal Church’s tally of baptized members dropped just below 1.6 million in 2022, down 21% from 2013.”
Exhibit D: “Statistically, is Africa the fastest-growing continent when it comes to Catholicism? According to figures released by the Vatican in October last year covering the year 2021, Africa has 256 million Catholics, representing about 18% of the continent’s population. That is 5.2 million more than in 2020.”
Try again.
What church that ordains females are young women flocking to today? Every woman-ordaining mainline denomination I know of is diminishing in numbers.
If the Catholic Church looked at that as a business model, it certainly wouldn’t be one to follow. It’s a path to extinction.
Steph:
Churches with priestesses have all declined earlier and faster than the Catholic and Orthodox Churches, indicating that you are mistaken.
As one formerly Protestant woman remarked, after converting to the Catholic faith: “the purpose of priestesses is to sacramentalize abortion.”
Stop with you radical feminism, “Steph”. Your Antifa Catholicism has done the Church grave harm already.
Cardinal Schönborn said he was “deeply convinced.” Whew! His feelings could have gone either way. How nice that his Eminence has emotionally embraced this teaching of Christ!
All of this makes me want to sing the sycophant song of Cardinal Tagle:
https://www.catholicworldreport.com/2023/07/20/ultramontanism-redivivus/
I have enormous sympathy for your point of view. I am not in favour of women priests but I do take your.point about driving women away. There is so much wrong with the church at this moment. The priesthood feels riddled with gayness the Pope regularly talks out of both sides of his mouth, he uses gutter language. He has gone out of his way to heap.praise on a book extolling the gay life. Abuse victims seek justice and do not find it. Abusers seem to be lauded. Genuinely the issue of women priests is not top billing.
Steph, You should learn about the thousands of young women who love the Church and work in many evangelizeing ministeries and who are embracing religious vocations. They are a testament to joyful love of Christ and His Church.
For Heaven’s sake, dear Fathers: spell it out!
The Mass is the Sacrifice of the New Adam for the New Eve! It is a foretaste of the Wedding Feast of the Lamb! It’s marital, nuptial!
“Impossible.” I like the firmness and clarity of that word. Nice to see cardinals with a spine standing up for the truth.