SUNDAY CONVERSATION WITH … : A priest becomes a rebel

The Rev. Roy Bourgeois of Columbus may face the ultimate punishment for a Catholic —- excommunication. His offense? Participating in the ordination of a woman, which is forbidden by the church. Staff writer Rosalind Bentley sat down for a Sunday Conversation with Father Bourgeois.

Q: You say the church’s position on women as priests doesn’t stand up to scholarly scrutiny. But the Vatican would say it stands up to God’s scrutiny.

A: To try and use God to bless discrimination does not hold up. Just saying “the pope says” doesn’t work. Just a footnote: In the early church, women were ordained. There were women priests and bishops… .

Q: I’ve never heard of that before.

A: Well, you and many Catholics have not. It’s something the pope doesn’t want to talk about. It was really in the Middle Ages that the patriarchy really had such a concentration of power that men began to say, “No way are we going to allow women priests.” It’s documented. The pope [the late John Paul II] says, “Jesus chose 12 apostles and they were all men.” But there’s a problem when you start talking about chosen. When Jesus resurrected from the dead, he appeared to Mary Magdalene and Mary. Jesus chose women to bring this important message of resurrection to the men. The core of this issue is the issue of sexism.

Q: I’m gathering you read “The DaVinci Code,” then, with some amusement?

A: No, I don’t read novels. And I didn’t go to the movie. I don’t have the time.