Sunday 23 May 2010

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?

4 comments:

Maggy Whitehouse said...

As a fellow 'Old Catholic' female priest, I'm really pleased by this news. And that we are not considered a threat is also good. We can act as 'stealth priests' performing requiem Masses for suicides; helping in cases of abuse and generally providing the services of the Rebbitzen (Rabbi's wife) in the Biblical days.
It's an honour to be ordained; the work is more important than the title but it's still good to know that there are more of us out there. Thanks for posting.

UKViewer said...

I thought that the CofE was in communion with the Old Catholic Church? Or is this a different version of the OCC?

I also thought that the RC Church recognised OCC Orders, and their Apostolic Succession?

If so, than her ordination while considered invalid by the RC Church, would be valid and recognised by the CofE.

I know that the RC Church excommunicated two Nuns who were ordained in the USA a while ago.

I wonder where all of this is going, resisting the Ministry of Women appears to me to be just wrong. Or am I living on a cloud somewhere?

Vic Van Den Bergh said...

We, the CofE, are still in communion with the OCC as I understand it.

Maggy, my pleasure - always glad to e of service somewhere.

V

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