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Scripture |  | Scripture |
| * Jesus Christ set a permanent norm by omitting women from the apostolic team. * Paul excluded women from teaching and presiding in the Christian assembly.
| * Because of the need of the moment Christ did not choose a woman. But he made women, in principle, equal partners in his priesthood. * Paul's prohibitions concern only local communities. He taught the equality of women in Christ.  | |
Tradition | | Tradition |
| Faithful to an unbroken tradition, the Church has never felt that priestly ordination can be conferred upon women. | Women were not ordained because of wide-spread social and religious prejudices against women.
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Theology | | Theology |
| Only male priests can adequately represent Christ who was a man.
| Christ is not adequately represented in his priesthood by male priests alone. | |
Authority | | Authority |
| The Church cannot extend the priesthood to women.
| The Church has the power to ordain women. |
