Pope says women important but ordination impossible

In his controversial new book, Pope Benedict XVI said women are so important that in many ways they define the face of the Church more than men. However, he insisted that priestly ordination for women is impossible. The Pope's book, "Light of the World: The Pope, the Chrch, and the Signs of the Times" will be released on Tuesday but it has already caused a stir around the globe, especially because of the comments made about the Pope on condom use. According to an article on the website of the Catholic News Agency (CNA), the book contains the Pope's responses to the questions of a German journalist, Peter Seewald, about sensitive and timely questions in the world today. CNA said the themes tackled in the book were edgy and the Pope's words were likely to fetch varied reactions. However, the Pope's answers "offer a unique look into his teachings and his perspective on the Church and the world," CNA added. One of the controversies that the Pope addressed was whether the ordination of women to the Catholic priesthood was possible, the CNA report said. Pope Benedict explained that women ordination was "not a question of responding to the wishes of the people" but a question of "whether the Church has the power to ordain women," the report said. Citing the words of the late Pope John Paul II in a 1994 document on the priesthood, Pope Benedict said the Church "has no authority whatsoever to confer priestly ordination on women." According to the CNA report, the Pope mentioned in the book that Jesus Christ established the Church leadership from 12 male apostles. The Pope thus said it was a matter of obedience to continue the practice of ordaining only men, CNA said. In the book, the Pope said the ruling on ordination was one of the most difficult teachings to obey but "this is what makes it important," the report said. The Pope also commented that the Church was not an "arbitrary regime" and that the priesthood was a form of service and not of domination, CNA said. The report also noted that the Pope spoke highly about the function of women in the Church as he cited the importance of historic figures such as Mary, Monica, and Mother Teresa. Pope suggests 'right sexuality' not condom use The Pope's comments in the book about condoms caused a stir worldwide. An Associated Press (AP) article on Sunday quoted the Pope as saying that condoms are not a moral solution to stopping AIDS but in some cases, such as for male prostitutes, their use could represent a first step in assuming moral responsibility "in the intention of reducing the risk of infection." The Pope, however, also reiterated the Church's position that abstinence and marital fidelity are the only sure ways of preventing the spread of HIV. The CNA said some media reports claim that the Pope offers a change in papal teaching about condom use. However, CNA said the Pope was suggesting that a humanized sexuality, not condoms, is the right response to HIV. An excerpt printed in L'Osservatore Romano said the Pope said there can be cases in which condom use may be justified, CNA said. The Pope cited the example of prostitutes who might use prophylactics as a step toward "moralization" or becoming moral, CNA added. The Pope explained that in such a case, condom use miheir first act of responsibility to redevelop their consciousness, helping them become aware that one cannot do everything that one wants, CNA reported. – VVP, GMANews.TV