The Real Reason the Catholic Church Ordains Only Men (#450)

About this episode

Greg Smith explores the reasons behind the Catholic Church's practice of ordaining only men to the priesthood, addressing common objections and emphasizing the beauty of complementarity in this teaching.

In this episode Greg unpacks one of the most emotionally charged questions on the road to Rome: why does the Catholic Church ordain only men to the priesthood? Drawing from his own painful experience in the Christian Reformed Church’s ordination battles of the 1990s, he shows how the debate shifts dramatically once you realize priestly authority is not about qualifications but about Christ acting in persona Christi as Bridegroom to His Bride. With clear teaching from Ordinatio Sacerdotalis, the Catechism, Pope Francis, and Pope Leo XIV’s recent catechesis on Lumen Gentium, plus a deep dive into John Paul II’s Theology of the Body, Greg explains the beauty of complementarity and how this teaching actually honors and elevates women. Listeners from Protestant backgrounds will find honest answers to common objections (Galatians 3:28, Phoebe, Junia) while everyone discovers the peace that comes from receiving Christ’s design instead of redesigning it. SUPPORT THIS SHOW Considering Catholicism is 100% listener-supported. If this podcast has helped you on your journey, please become a patron today! For as little as $5/month you get: • Every regular episode ad-free and organized into…

People in this episode

Host: Greg Smith

Topics covered

• Catholic Church
• priesthood
• gender roles
• complementarity
• Theology of the Body
• Christianity
• faith journey

Keywords

• Catholic Church
• ordination
• men
• priesthood
• complementarity
• Theology of the Body
• Pope Francis
• Galatians 3:28
• Phoebe
• Junia

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Christian Reformed Church

Books & works: Ordinatio Sacerdotalis, Catechism, Lumen Gentium

Places: Rome

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