All articles tagged with #clericalism
Pope Francis encouraged a 22-year-old gay man, Lorenzo Michele Noè Caruso, to continue pursuing his vocation to the priesthood after being rejected from a seminary due to his sexual identity. The pope's handwritten note condemned clericalism and emphasized that the Church should be open to everyone. Caruso had written to the pope about his struggles and the Church's prohibition on admitting homosexuals to seminaries.
A laywoman received a big ovation at the Synod on Synodality for her speech opposing women's ordination, characterizing it as a form of clericalism and a distraction from what Catholic women truly want and need. The speech emphasized the importance of motherhood and drew on the example of Mary, the Mother of God. The intervention had a significant impact on the discussions, influencing participants assigned to address the role of women in the Church. Despite organizers' insistence that the synod's focus would not be on doctrine, discussions on women's ordination have become a focal point, with some participants advocating for the admittance of women to the diaconate and priesthood.