In reading Daniel Quinlan's argument against female priests in the Sept. 25 Letter to the Editor ("The doctrine of male priesthood"), his reasoning led me to an interesting corollary. His argument is summarized as such: According to the Catechism of the Catholic Church, no one has rights to priesthood. Also stated in the Catechism, it is only through God's call that one can become a priest.
To me, this implies one of two things. Case 1: The catechism is wrong and God does call both men and women to priesthood, but the hierarchy of the Church does not take the calls to women seriously. Like everyone, I know plenty of pious women who would make phenomenal priestesses. However, because of the patriarchal structure of the Church that has existed throughout history, women are denied the chance to have true leadership positions in the Church. Discrimination against women has been and still is a major problem for the world and the Church is also guilty of this.
Or, Case 2: God is sexist. Maybe the Catechism is right. Perhaps God really does only call men to be priests. It seems to me like God is playing favorites. God created both men and women in his image. If both are such wonders of his creation, why would God have any problems calling women to leadership roles in the hierarchy of his Church? If the Catechism is right and God does only call men to be priests, then he must have a bias. This bias, as it is called in all cases, is known as sexism and like all prejudices, it should not be tolerated. In either case, there is no legitimate reason why women cannot be priests.
At some point, women are being discriminated against unfairly, either by people or by God. As we know from our progress as human beings, such discrimination is never acceptable.
Andy Hills
sophomore
Carroll Hall
Sept. 25
