Men who are childish enough and uncharitable enough and unspiritual enough to be driven from ordination because of what Miss Ursula Stern (June 8) terms "women in the sanctuary" are not worthy of being ordained anyway.
In wartime, the men were only too happy to allow women to take a full part in the defence of the country, through necessity. Through necessity they may be driven eventually to accept women in the sanctuary if the authorities refuse to allow married clergy. Which is the most important, teaching the Gospel and dispensing the Sacraments or the rules governing the priesthood?
Sometimes I wonder why we don't concentrate a bit more on some of the things Our Lord did not say. One such thing was that women could not be priests; in fact when Martha demanded that he should tell. Mary to help her with the chores, instead of sitting under
ihstruction with the Apostles, he refused to do so, saying: "Mary, has chosen the better part and it shall not be taken from her."
I, personally am not anxious to promote women priests only to get rid of uncharitableness and discrimination, neither of which have a place in the "Kingdom of God." If men will not come forward to read the lesson and serve at Mass, it is discrimination to pass over capable women who are present, just because they are women.
E. S. Preston 29 Eardley Road, Sevenoaks, Kent.