The Catechism, 1992

The 1992 Catechism of the Catholic Church adds a paragraph to say that women cannot be ordained priests.


The Catechism on Women's Ordination

From: The Catechism of the Catholic Church, ed. Geoffrey Chapman, London 1994, pp. 353-354.

§ 1577. "Only a baptized man (vir) validly receives sacred ordination."[66] The Lord Jesus chose men (viri) to form the college of the twelve apostles, and the apostles did the same when they chose collaborators to succeed them in their ministry.[67] The college of bishops, with whom the priests are united in the priesthood, makes the college of the twelve an ever-present and ever-active reality until Christ's return. The Church recognizes herself to be bound by this choice made by the Lord himself. For this reason the ordination of women is not possible.[68]

§ 1578. No one has a right to receive the sacrament of Holy Orders. Indeed no one claims this office for himself; he is called to it by God.[69] Anyone who thinks he recognizes the signs of God's call to the ordained ministry must humbly submit his desire to the authority of the Church, who has the responsibility and right to call someone to receive orders. Like every grace this sacrament can be received only as an unmerited gift.

Footnotes.

66. Codex Iuris Canonici, can. 1024.

67. Cf. Mk 3:14-19; Lk 6:12-16; 1 Tim 3:1 -13; 2 Tim 1:6; St. Clement of Rome. Ad Cor. 42,4; 44,3: PG 1,292-293; 300.

68. Cf. John Paul II, MD 26-27; CDF, Decl. Inter Insigniores: AAS 69 (1977) 98-116.

69. Heb 5:4.