Two members of the Roman Catholic Women Priests sect will be ordained from deacons to priests this week, a move that has some Catholics divided on what traditional beliefs should carry into modern times. Monica Kilburn-Smith and James Lauder will be ordained as Catholic priests by Bishop Patricia Fresen on Thursday (May 29).
Though they are both valid ordainments, Lauder said the church looks at them as illegal because women, or those married or divorced, cannot become priests.
Both Kilburn-Smith and Lauder feel strongly about their faith but said they are discriminated by the church for joining the Roman Catholic Women Priests sect.
Lauder said the Roman Catholic Women Priests sect teaches teaches the Roman Catholic faith, but is less judgmental and more inclusive than traditional Roman Catholic sects.
The major difference, and cause for most controversy, is that women can become priests.
But to Lauder it’s more than that.
“We want to stay away from the clerical hierarchy,” he said.
Lauder is both divorced and re-married, but said he remains a strong Catholic. “Everybody’s welcome at our table of worship,” he said.
Pat Jamieson, editor of Island Catholic News, said there are many groups of Catholics on Vancouver Island who are in a similar position.
“We call ourselves prophetic Catholics.” Jamieson said, explaining the groups within Catholicism that accept married, gay or women priests openly but still feel strongly about their faith.
The ordainment Thursday is another important step for groups like the Catholic Network for Women’s Equality, Ministry Without Borders and Corpus Canada, which supports married priests.
Jamieson said that it is important to have people like Lauder ordained because he has a strong and positive leadership role in the Catholic community, whether he is married or divorced should make no difference.
The ordination of Lauder and Kilburn-Smith will be held at 2 p.m. in St. Aidan’s United Church in Saanich.
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