A LEADING Irish bishop has claimed the Vatican edict was misinterpreted. In a statement, Bishop John McAreavey described as "unfounded" the interpretation of Thursday's Vatican ruling, which drew a parallel between the ordination of women and child sexual abuse.
The Newry-based Bishop of Dromore explained that the former offence related to the sacraments and the latter to immorality, as worldwide fury over the edict continued to grow.
"The fact that a variety of issues are dealt with in one document does not imply in any context that all these issues are equivalent," he said.
But last night, an Irish woman, prominent in the Roman Catholic Women Priests movement in America, accused the Vatican of misogyny.
"This decree by an all-male hierarchy reflects Vatican misogyny and hostility to women priests who are ministering effectively in inclusive, vibrant grassroots communities," said self-styled bishop Bridget Mary Meehan.
She claims the number of women priests has grown from seven to more than 100 in the last eight years.
"Shame on the Vatican for linking the ordination of women priests with grave crimes like paedophilia," she added
She will travel to Ireland next month to promote the women priests movement and will address the Humbert Summer School, in Castlebar, Co Mayo, on August 20, on the theme of Catholic Church Reform.
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