Rebel Roman Catholics ordain female priest

LYON, July 2 (AFP) – France’s first Roman Catholic woman priest on Saturday underwent an ordination ceremony not recognised by the Vatican on a barge on a river in the eastern city of Lyon.

Genevieve Beney, 55, married to a Protestant and without children, was received into the priesthood by three self-styled women bishops, all of whom have been excommunicated by Rome, a fate that awaits Beney.

She said nothing, but a statement read on her behalf said: “Our transgression of ordained women is legitimate because it is a question of human dignity… To be able to respond as a free choice to a call received is an inalienable right.”

The three ‘bishops’ — German, Austrian and South African — explained their action as a reply to a call from God and an act of protest.

The Roman Catholic Church has rejected the idea of ordaining women.

The ‘bishops’ said about 10 women had been ordained as Roman Catholic priests since the first such ceremonies in 2002 and about 65 were waiting to be received into the priesthood.

Subject: French news