Sometimes you have to wonder about the Roman Catholic Church. Facing many challenges in a world where millions welcome the Gospel message but aren’t quite so willing to swallow the male-dominated hierarchical church, Rome selected the head of the Inquisition to be their new leader in April 2005. (The Roman church has never had a branch formally called “The Inquisition”, but the current name of that body is the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, which Cardinal Ratzinger led prior to his election.) More recently, the Archdiocese of Saint Louis may have topped that.

In an AP story that appeared in the New York Times last month, “Two Faiths Divided on Women’s Ordination Ceremony”, the Rev. Vincent Heier, director of the archdiocesen office for ecumenical and interreligious affairs is quoted as saying, “This is not a lack of forgiveness, but we have to stand for something. It’s a matter of principle.” And what is this core principal? That other religious bodies not offer assistance to women who wish to be ordained as priests.

In this particular story, a Jewish congregation made their sanctuary available for an ordination service for two women. The archdiocese was not in any way involved. Out of courtesy, the rabbi let Rev. Heier know of their plans. The archdiocese responded, according to the AP story they vowed never again to work with the congregation.

In times past, the archdiocese and the Central Reform Congregation were involved together in advocacy for the poor and immigrants. They doubtless provided support for some of the same soup kitchens. I guess that all stops now.

Reverend Heier, let me tell you something: As representatives of Jesus Christ in the third millennium at Saint Louis, support for the hungry and the foreigners in your community is a core principal. Choosing to not make use of women who are called to ordained ministry within your parishes is an organizational fetish, it’s not a principle. Refusing to work with others in the community who don’t share this fetish isn’t a principle, it’s an absurdity.

If I Were King, or even Bishop of Rome, I’d send Rev. Heier to his room for a while to think about what his core principles are.