Fresno, Calif., Jun 12, 2007 / 09:26 am
Bishop John Steinbock of Fresno issued a pastoral letter this month reiterating Church teaching regarding the ordination of women to the priesthood.
In his letter, the bishop said he believed the movement toward women’s ordination has “greatly died down with the understanding that men and women are equal but have different roles in life, and are not at odds with one another, but complement one another.”
However, he decided to issue the pastoral letter after receiving a few comments at a May 19 ordination about women not being able to be ordained.
A May 18 letter in the Fresno Bee brought attention to a group called Action Purple Stole of Fresno that was asking households “to light a candle on May 19 at 10 a.m. in remembrance and support for all women being called by God to the priesthood, yet unable to answer that call in the Roman Catholic Church.”