The constant teaching of the Church...

Can women be ordained as priests? This question provokes much debate today, and the short answer is the one that the Church has always pronounced: “no”. The Canon Law of the Church bears this out. There have also been more recent magisterial statements on the matter.

The basis for this teaching is found in the SacredScriptures themselves and in the writings of the Fathers of the Church.

The fundamental reason why ministerial priesthood is reserved to men is that Christ ordained only men. At the Last Supper he conferred priesthood on the apostles. The constant Tradition of the Church has subsequently always held that priesthood is reserved to men.