01:00 AM EDT on Tuesday, August 16, 2005

The members of CORPUSRI thank The Journal for the articles "As Catholic as the pope" and "Some Catholic women defy the church to be ordained" in the Sunday Extra section July 31. Both articles reflect positions held for years by members of CORPUS (Corps of Reserved Priests United for Service): optional celibacy for clergy and ordination of women.

Your publication of these articles may raise the specter in some quarters of prejudice or bias. As members of CORPUS we see these excellent articles as a way to inform the general public that there are married Roman Catholic priests now (converted Episcopal and Lutheran priests, Eastern rite Catholic priests). And history tells us that until about 1139 A.D. priests, some bishops and even some popes were married. This is an issue of discipline, not dogma. The needs of the Church, the laity and clergy, will ultimately prevail.

The ordination of women to the Roman Catholic priesthood is currently "in defiance of the Church," that is, Church law and hierarchy. But both can be changed. The role of women has certainly changed in the last century or two. The education and liberation of women has been a problem for men in general and for some Roman Catholic hierarchy in particular.

Here in the United States especially women have played an important role in the Catholic School system and now in positions of influence in many parishes, dioceses. No one can deny that men and women are called to ministry, be it administration, education or liturgical service. Why not priesthood? A male says "I feel an inner call to the priesthood," and he gets a shot at it. A female says the same, and it'ssorry: no room at the inn. Both are baptised and confirmed. Both receive the Eucharist and other Sacraments. Does the Spirit play games with educated Catholic women?

At CORPUSRI we support the efforts of our married brothers to minister anew to the People of God and we support the women inspired by the Spirit who explore the new frontiers of Church discipline and practice.

JOHN J. WALSH

Cranston

The writer is chairman of CORPUSRI.