Catholic Church Should Consider Ordaining Women, Priest Says

Perth Now
May 28, 2015

http://www.perthnow.com.au/news/catholic-church-should-consider-ordaining-women-priest-says/story-fnii5smr-1227374328949

Ballarat bishop Paul Bird outside the royal commission today. Picture: Yuri Kouzmin

ONE of Victoria’s most senior priests says the Catholic Church should consider ordaining women.

Ballarat bishop Paul Bird said today a lack of women in the church may have contributed to the widespread abuse of children.

He told the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse that the issue should be revisited.

“If we looked at the possible negative effects of not including women, then that would add to the reason for the discussion,” he said.

“If we see that as a difficulty in having the church really balanced as a community, and with a recognition that perhaps in some cases that very imbalance...was a contributing factor to some crimes...then that would be all the more reason.”