Why is ordination to the priesthood reserved only to men?
The church’s teaching that only men can be ordained to the ministerial priesthood arises from identity to the example of the Lord as witnessed by the New Testament and to the constant tradition of the Eastern and Western churches. The church considers this constant and universal tradition to be in accordance with God’s plan and to constitute a permanent norm. Jesus chose only men as members of the twelve. This example was followed in the apostolic community; and by means of a Tradition of practice, the church acquired a certainty about this norm. The issue of the possibility of ordaining women was first raised in the second century and has been raised and addressed by theologians down to the present day.
