The Church's Teaching on Priesthood

The Catholic Church maintains that priestly ordination is reserved solely for men, a stance reaffirmed by John Paul II. He emphasized that this teaching is rooted in a longstanding tradition and holds a dogmatic status rather than being merely a matter of discipline. The Church cannot change this doctrine without contradicting its identity as the Church of Jesus Christ, as doing so would invalidate two millennia of tradition. Therefore, it is essential for Catholics to accept the belief that the Church lacks the authority to ordain women as priests.