Why it is wrong to exclude women

The following was taken from Bishop Bridget Mary Meehan's Blog
"Let’s examine the evidence in the bible and Vatican scholarship, 

First, Jesus was not a priest, nor did Jesus ordain anyone a priest. The apostles were not priests or bishops. Jesus called women and men to be disciples, and treated them as partners and equals. In all four gospels, Mary Magdalene was the primary witness to the central event of Christianity — Christ’s resurrection. 

Second: in early Christianity, scholars conclude that women served as deacons, priests and bishops. (See Gary Macy, The Hidden History of Women's Ordination and Dorothy Irvin's archaelogical researach)

Third: in 1976, the Vatican’s own Pontifical Biblical Commission stated that there is no theological basis to exclude women from the priesthood.

Fourth: according to Vatican II, Gaudium et Spes, #29) “every type of discrimination … based on sex … is to be overcome and eradicated as contrary to God’s intent.” 

Does a teaching that states women can receive six sacraments and men can receive seven sacraments indicate that discrimination is a core issue here?

The bottom line is: the church cannot continue to discriminate against half of its membership, and blame Jesus for it.

When the institutional church prohibits ordination and fails to treat woman as spiritual equals at every level, it thereby, gives permission to the rest of the world to oppress and dominate women. We must make the connection between discrimination against women in the church and abuse, violence, and gender injustice the world.

In the church’s recent Synod on the Family, women were not only missing from the all male, celibate voting bishops, but also, missing in the final document on church teachings that will affect women’s lives around the globe.

Journalist Angela Bonavoglia writes the following stinging critique of the Synod on the Family in an article entitled “Where Are the Women? “There were passing references to violence against women in the family and in the world in the final Synod document, but nowhere do the Church fathers make a moral case for protecting women from such violence in their own homes and supporting them in leaving such relationships… This omission is doubly concerning coming from a church that forces childbirth on unwilling women by supporting laws that block access to birthcontrol…”  (Where Are the Women? By Angela Bonavoglia | November 20, 2014 http://www.womensmediacenter.com/feature/entry/the-synods-final-document-where-are-the-women#.VHKOmUJZXtg.email

In order to be credible, the Synod on the Family must reflect women’s experiences. They could check in with some of our women priests who are mothers and grandmothers! We are faithful Catholics who love our church and are offering it a renewed model of priestly ministry that is non-clerical and non-hierarchical, one with all in the community of the baptized."

Montrose Democrat - Lawrence D. Coleman's Obituary

" Middletown Man's Death is Mourned"  Late Lawrence D. Coleman
Mr. Coleman's recent sudden death at the age of 53, brought to close and active life in Middletown township.  He was a native of the township and son of Frank and Hannah Coleman.  In his early life he was employed on the nationally known Walker-Gordon Farms, Plainsboro, N.J.  In 1904 he formed a partnership with John Purtell in a general store in Middletown, which continued for three years, when Mr. Coleman engaged in farming.  April 18, 1917, he married Miss Mary Purtell, sister of his former partner.  Their four children, Francis, Lawrence, Mary and Helen, reside at home.  In his earlier years he was a prominent amateur baseball player and never lost interest in the national game.  He was manager of the Middletown team and served as treasurer of the Bedford-Susquehanna county baseball league.  He was also a school director for some years and served as secretary and treasurer of the Jackson Valley Telephone Co.  Hundreds of sorrowing friends attended his funeral in St. Francis Xavier's church, Friendsville.  His delightful personality made him popular with all who became acquainted with him and all sympathize with the family in their great loss.

I believe this is Grandma Margaret Coleman O'Donnell

Lawrence Darius Coleman's Store