A majority of respondents to an informal Sudbury Star survey supports the ordination of women as Roman Catholic priests by a renegade group that is not recognized by the church.Roughly six out of 10 respondents to The Star's weekly Internet-based survey answered in the affirmative to the question: "Do you agree with the decision of a group of Catholics to ordain women as priests outside of church teachings?"
As of Sunday evening, a total of 299 respondents to The Star's survey, or 59.6 per cent, indicated they agree with the ordination of women as Catholic priests.
The Star poll was taken after an international group of church activists, the Roman Catholic Womenpriests, disclosed it would hold its first ordination ceremony in Canada on May 27.
A Sudbury resident, Marie Bouclin, will be one of three women who will be ordained in the ceremony in Toronto.
A female bishop from Germany will preside over the ceremony, which will not recognized by the Roman Catholic Church.
Founded in 2002, the Roman Catholic Womenpriests movement has ordained 14 women priests in the United States and one in Canada.
The group says it has more than 100 other women who want to be ordained.
The Sudbury Star's Internet poll on the issue of female priests drew a total of 502 responses over the past week. A total of 168 respondents, or 33.5 per cent, stated they disagree with the ordination of women, while another 35 respondents, or seven per cent, indicated they were not sure.
The Star's Internet poll is not a scientific public-opinion survey and reflects the views of participating users only.
Poll results cannot be assumed to represent the views of the public or Osprey Media.
The question of female priests in the Catholic Church also drew dozens of calls to The Star's telephone news line, with comments ranging from the thoughtful to the vitriolic.
"I don't agree with those women; I think they're mentally ill," said one woman.
"I don't believe it's the proper thing, for a lady to become a priest," said a male caller. "I have no discrimination against women, but it seems that men are better teachers for religion than would be a lady."
Those who can't follow church rules should find another church, another caller suggested. "I don't agree that a group can go off by themselves and decide what the church should do and what the church should follow," the man said. "If they can't obey the teachings of the church, then let them find a church that will."
One woman argued the ordination of women is long overdue in the Catholic church, adding that centuries ago, the church recognized female priests.
"I sure agree that women should be ordained as priests," she said. "After all, Jesus held no vile attitude toward women; many were Jesus' companions and they played an active role in the community. "
Unfortunately, some male fools who thought they knew better than the good Lord took complete control of the church and today the church does not want to yield that power. They've always feared and will always fear women and it is this fear of women, the fear of losing their control, that governs them."
The male-dominated Catholic church must change, stated another woman. "I agree with the group that thinks they should ordain women priests in the Catholic church. That's what the Roman Catholic Church really needs; it's too men-oriented.
"I know a good number of women priests in the Anglican church and they're wonderful."
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