Saratoga News
Letters & Opinions
Speak Out
'Bottom line,' there
are no female
Catholic priests
The front-page article about the Rev. Juanita Cordero ("Altaring Experience," Sept. 25), a "Catholic priest," ordained last July by Bishop Patricia Fresen, herself ordained on a boat, in the middle of the Danube, by German bishops whose identities remain a closely guarded secret from the Vatican, was intriguing.
The timing of this article was perfect. Over the summer, I researched, determined to find a sound basis for women in the priesthood, either in Scripture or in universal church tradition. But, bottom line, I learned there is none.
I even asked a nun-theologian, known to be sympathetic to a female priesthood, for a valid source. She had no answer to my request. In fact, asking just made her hopping mad; now, she avoids me.
For women, the best I could find for what today is an ordained clerical position is that of a deacon; one source pinned it down to women over the age of 40.
It is terrifying when people say God is telling them something, when it is really their imagination. A woman's call to the Roman Catholic priesthood cannot be from the Holy Spirit. In discerning promptings from the Holy Spirit, Christians must be guided primarily by God's inspired word found in scripture, the gold standard by which all things are measured, and secondarily, by universal church tradition. Thus, by not allowing women priests, the Vatican makes a good call.
On Nov. 12-15, 2007, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops will have its annual fall general assembly--169 Milwaukee priests called for a re-examination of the discipline of mandatory celibacy for diocesan priests at the 2003 assembly. Voice of the Faithful, a lay Catholic organization with 25,000 registered supporters in 40 U.S. states and 21 countries worldwide, recently echoed that call.
As a South Bay Area VOTF member, I pray celibacy will be re-examined, when bishops are updated about research for the "Causes and Context Study" of clergy sexual abuse of minors done by the John Jay School of Criminal Justice. While its value cannot be diminished when freely embraced, celibacy ought never be mandated. Diocesan clergymen should be able to marry at any time.
Costs of mandated celibacy grow daily, not only in multi-million-dollar settlements to victims of priests, but in loss of trust, the emotional health of honorable priests and the church body, threatened by women ramming their feet through a broken door, evidenced by the clandestine ordinations of "Rev." Cordero and "Bishop" Fresen.
Ronna Devincenzi
Saratoga
People must know
what's happening
in Darfur, Sudan
I am a freshman at Leigh High School in San Jose. I am currently enrolled in World Geography and Cultures. After learning about the unfortunate things that are currently happening in Darfur, Sudan, I felt the need to contact you. The lives of millions hang in the balance. Many people are unaware of the extent of this devastating massacre.
Did you know that there are 2.5 million people in the refugee camps or towns in Darfur, knowing that the Sudanese militia (Janjaweed) will find and kill them? The Janjaweed will torture and kill the men and children. The wives will be left for the militia to rape and then kill them straight after. After all of the people in the camp or town are dead, they will then loot and burn it down to the ground, making sure that nobody can ever go back there.
We need to send U.S. and U.N. forces over to Sudan and put an end to this genocide. This has already happened before in Rwanda, and we did not get involved quickly enough to stop the massacre then, but we have a chance to this time.
I urge you to publish this in your next newspaper to help people understand the extent of what is happening in Sudan.
Together, we must get this country to help increase aid levels and to ensure access for aid delivery. Shortfalls in aid continue to mean that people are at risk of starvation. I feel that humanitarian organizations must have unfettered access to all who need help.
Adam Hull
San Jose
