From: 15942@brahms.udel.edu (Stephen Barr)
Subject: polls and women priests
Organization: University of Delaware
Date: Fri, 13 Nov 1992 16:38:44 GMT

    People who favor women's ordination point with
satisfaction at the polls showing rising acceptance
of the idea. Let us be realistic. The Pope and 
probably the vast majority of bishops in the world,
including probably almost all of the college of
Cardinals, believe that the Church cannot ordain women.
It seems pretty obvious that even if polls showed 98%
acceptance of the idea that would not lead to a
change. Consider the precedent of contraception.
(a) More Catholics dissent on contraception than on 
women priests, (b) contraception hits more people
at a personal level: alot of people want to use
contraceptives themselves, few actually want to become
priests, male or female, (c) the scriptural arguments
against contraception are very indirect, whereas
there are explicit texts of scripture supporting the
teaching on the male priesthood, (d) one cannot find
explicit statements against contraception in the
Fathers before St. Augustine (correct me if I am
wrong here), whereas the tradition of ordaining men
is unbroken all the way back to the Apostles, and
indeed has Old Testament support as well. The 
Church, in spite of enormous pressure to change, in
spite of the weaker evidence from scripture and tradition,
in spite of massive dissent even from theologians,
has shown no inclination to change on contraception.
If public opinion and agitation and pressure tactics
could change Church doctrine it would have done so
on contraception! The only thing that could change
teaching on women priests is a refutation of the
theological arguments showing it to be part of Sacred
Tradition. But the weight of these arguments is so
overwhelming it is hard to even imagine how they could
be overturned. Finally, look at the "correlation of 
forces" as the Soviets used to say. The Pope is very
adamant, he appoints Cardinals who presumably share his
views on this, they will elect the next Pope who 
therefore is likely to share these views also. The
Pope is also systematically appointing bishops who he 
regards as orthodox on this question. 
    No matter how you cut it, it seems highly improbable
that the Pope and bishops will ever reverse the Church's
teaching on this. 
     So what will all the agitation and pressure tactics
and propaganda for women priests mean in the end? 
A lot of people will come to believe that the teaching
is foolish and unjust. When it becomes clear that it
won't change they will become disillusioned, disgusted
with the Church, and severely alienated. Many will leave
the Church. We see this reaction already, but it would
doubtless be on a far more massive scale. Indeed, it
is likely the Church will dramatically shrink in numbers
in the US and some other places. Will this frighten the          
hierarchy? Yes, but they will not betray what they regard
as their duty because it is unpopular.
     Very sad. Totally predictable. Those who find the
arguments against women priests weak, could try to 
show where they are weak. Just accusing the hierarchy
of sexism, insensitivity, the disease of patriarchy, a  
desire to maintain their power, and all the rest, will
accomplish exactly nothing toward having women ordained,
but an enormous amount toward that future massive defection 
from the Church. The hierarchy is used to this kind of 
abuse, it is not going to frighten them. The proponents
of women priests have a lot of serious theological 
homework to do if they are going to make any headway. I
see no evidence it is being done. They are sure God is on 
their side and a sudden outpouring of grace will melt
the hardened hearts of the hierarchy. I am afraid
these women's ordination proponents are sowing the wind.
       Steve.