Breakaway RC Group ordain first woman!

A church in Italy, the 'Old Catholic Church' (OCC) has ordained a thirty-five year old married teacher as their first woman priest  thus making her the legitimate holder of the title 'first woman to be ordained in Italy'. Of course whether or not the denomination is legitimate is another thing to be seen - I'm sure some will say not whilst others will murmur their approval! Still, Mother Maria Vittoria Longhitano, is now, by some at least, to be considered to be a clerk in holy orders.

I find this all a bit fascinating as odd breakaway RC congregations keep popping up. This one, of whom I probably rightly know nothing, apparently took its thiruble and left during the nineteenth century.

Much as to be expected Mother Longhitano hopes that her ordination will break down prejudice in the Roman Catholic church. "We are talking about an extremely hierarchical system; a male caste with a strong instinct of self-preservation and this is why there is this general attitude against ordaining women in the Church." The RC plc head office, not surprisingly, deny this and say it's all about keeping things as jesus established them and it is therefore theology and not sex that is the issue here.

Some commentators are saying that having more women in the Church may have helped prevent the priest child-abuse scandal of recent years. A pretty naive observation unless of course they know something about the realities of life and men really are potential rapists and child abusers whilst women are merely the natural carers. A bit of misandry exhibited here perhaps?

The fun bit is that some are reporting that this is an RC associated happening but the reality is that RC and Old Catholic are not in communion with one another and therefore this is not in any way going to be a source of concern to the RC because, for them, the OCC simply don't exist!

The moment

Is she in my study?