The Future Of Women Leaders In The Catholic Church
BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- Pope Francis is standing his ground on a centuries-old Catholic tradition concerning women's roles in leadership. The Pope's comments yesterday are resonating with Catholics worldwide and in Baltimore.
While steeped in tradition, for thousands of years men have lead the Catholic Church. Pope Francis is saying that will never change, telling reporters on a flight to Rome -- women will never serve as Catholic priests.
"Concerning the ordination of women in the Catholic Church, St. Pope John Paul II had the last clear word on this and it stands, this stands," said Pope Francis.
The Pontiff has been called progressive for opening the doors to divorced Catholics and the LGBT community. But some Baltimore Catholics don't want things to change.
Locals voice their opinions:
"I'm a traditional Catholic and I like to keep the old Catechism," said one woman.
"The modern influences won't change what we know is to be good and valuable, and that is a celibate male priesthood in the Catholic church," said a local man.
"If everybody would read the Bible, they would understand that women are not supposed to have those types of roles in the Catholic church," said a local woman.
Pope Francis cited Saint Pope John Paul II as the last clear weigh-in on this issue. Still, groups like the Roman Catholic Womanpriest movement are challenging religious law. Reverend Jaqueline Clarys in Catonsville serves as an ordained womanpriest.
"We like to say that spirit has the last word, not man-made of hiererarchical statements," said Reverend Clarys.
Those statements -- still Canon Law, as Pope Francis sticks to what's written. Reverand Clarys says she believes the Catholic church will one day end discrimination against women priests.
Pope Francis was on a flight from Sweden, where the Lutheran Church's leader is a woman.
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