Washington D.C., Jul 15, 2010 / 14:19 pm
Archbishop Donald Wuerl of the U.S. bishops' Committee on Doctrine welcomed the Vatican’s recent clarification on the canonical penalties for the attempted ordination of women, saying the action shows “the seriousness with which it holds offenses against the Sacrament of Holy Orders.”
In a July 15 statement the Vatican said that the attempted ordination of women was a “grave delict,” a Church crime that is always referred to the Holy See for adjudication.
Archbishop of Washington Donald W. Wuerl, Chairman of the USCCB’s Committee on Doctrine, said the clarification was “a welcome statement.”
“The seven sacraments are an integral and identifying part of the Catholic Church and the faith life of each Catholic,” he commented. “To feign any sacrament would be egregious. The Catholic Church through its long and constant teaching holds that ordination has been, from the beginning, reserved to men, a fact which cannot be changed despite changing times.”