A chara, - Feminists are doing themselves no service by campaigning for the ordination of women priests in the Roman Catholic Church. By doing so they are giving credence to the patriarchal, authoritarian and un-Christlike claim that ordination must come via the hands of a bishop who can trace his authority back in an unbroken line to Christ himself.
Who ordained Jesus? No one did. Jesus went and did what he had to do without any authority from anyone outside of himself. Women who feel called to ministry can do exactly the same.
Who gave Jesus authority to take the bread and wine from the Passover table and declare it his body and blood? Certainly not the Jewish authorities. Why should women now ask permission from the Roman authorities? Those who wish to celebrate the Eucharist, proclaim the gospel, or perform other Christian liturgies can do so with an inner authority exemplified by Christ. They do not need an imprimatur from anyone. - Is mise,
Dara Molloy, An Charraig, Inis M≤r, Contae na Gaillimhe.