Groups of priests in Australia, Austria and the United States have
called for a new look at Roman Catholic teachings on the ordination of
women.
About 150 U.S. priests signed a letter supporting the Rev. Roy
Bourgeois, a member of the Maryknoll order, The New York Times reported
Saturday.
Bourgeois has refused a Vatican order to recant his
participation in an ordination ceremony for a woman.
The Australian National Council of Priests has supported Bishop
William Morris.
He was forced to resign as bishop of Toowoomba after he
said he would ordain women and married men if the Vatican changed its
position.
In Austria, more than 300 priests and deacons signed a "Call to
Disobedience."
They supported female and married priests and giving
communion to divorced Catholics and promised to pray for reform in the
church at every Mass.
Pope John Paul II issued a 1994 statement that the church has "no
authority whatsoever" to ordain women.
He argued that all of Jesus'
apostles were men, something many scholars dispute.
Pope Benedict XVI in his statement on Morris said the church teaching on female ordination is "infallible."