Sir, – Jennifer Sleeman (September 19th), in calling for women to be ordained into the priesthood of the Catholic church, comments: “There are fewer Masses, and fewer priests. The laity can help, but a sacramental church needs priests”.
But why should the church need priests, and why is Ms Sleeman so half-hearted in her demands for reform? Why, indeed, shouldn’t the laity celebrate Mass? Mightn’t there be more pious and worthy Christians in the pews than on the altar?
It is the very word “sacramental” which explains why this can’t happen, and also why the priesthood is confined to men. The priesthood is a divine calling, not a “job” that can be assessed in rationalistic, meritocratic terms. Western, 21st-century society may have decided that the differences between the sexes should be irrelevant to every activity except reproduction; but Catholics who believe that their church is directed by the Holy Spirit need not follow that drab and reductive logic.
Is it not the height of human arrogance to subject God to an employment tribunal? I am well aware that secularists will snigger at my words; but, since they take the whole kit and caboodle of organised religion to be so much play-acting, this is hardly relevant. – Yours, etc,