“While a theologian seeks always to explain the faith from within a particular cultural context, a good theologian begins with the sources of faith in divine revelation and not with the norms of cultures that are simply human constructs. Sister Sara Butler has written an exemplary book on the theology of Holy Orders, beginning with an explanation of what the Lord intended as handed on consistently through the ages of the Church’s existence. If this book is well used, it will change the presently sterile discussion of who can be ordained to the Catholic priesthood.”

—Francis Cardinal George, OMI,
Archbishop of Chicago (1997–2014)

“This is the book we have been waiting for, the one that not only fills the void of solid one-source answers to the question of women’s ordination, but builds a whole structure out of that conversation. And then, crowns it with the beauty of clarity. It is that rare exposition—that ‘Great Aha!’—of all the pieces finally falling into place. Sister Sara Butler is exquisitely positioned as the definitive authority on women’s ordination, for clergy, theologians, scholars and lay faithful—no matter what they believe about this controversial issue. From the first sentence onward, she makes the complete and eloquent case for why it is not a matter of opinion ... Sister Butler’s definitive book is clear and compelling, and it should be your ‘go to’ reference every time the subject comes up in the Church or the culture. With this wisdom as our guide, it should be settled once and for all.”

—Sheila Gribben Liaugminas
Emmy Award-winning journalist, recently hosted the popular radio shows The Right Questions and Issues and Answers on Relevant Radio®

“How to carefully and convincingly present a contentious ‘settled doctrine’? Sister Sara Butler, with years of theological investigation into the question of the male priesthood, capably illustrates that this doctrine is not the end of a discussion but because it is settled actually invites a new level of reflection vis-à-vis the relationship between men and women within tradition, the Church and in the celebration of the sacraments. This book is for a wide contemporary audience, for Catholics, in fact, for all people who have a serious interest in this doctrine.”

—Rev. Gerald Dennis Gill,
Pontifical North American College, Rome

“In seven succinct and well-argued chapters, Sister Sara Butler succeeds admirably in giving a clear, calm, and orderly explanation of the Catholic teaching that the Church does not have the authority to ordain women to the priesthood. Careful to distinguish the fundamental reasons for the Church’s teaching from the theological explanations of it, Butler is especially skillful in demonstrating how our access to the intention of Christ for the priesthood depends on our trust in the witness of tradition and the reading of the scriptures in the light of tradition. Butler shows the reader that admitting women to priestly ordination would not be a matter of a simple reconfiguration or rearrangement of the Church structure but would amount to a corruption of the fundamental constitution of the Church as willed by Christ.”

—Lawrence J. Welch,
Professor of Systematic Theology
Kenrick-Glennon Seminary

“At a time when the ‘feminine genius’ is being recognized more deeply in the Catholic Church, this splendid book from Sister Sara Butler provides us with an impressive range of historical, cultural, philosophical, and theological perspectives clarifying misunderstandings regarding the Church’s position on the admission of women to the ministerial priesthood. Here is a text that clarifies doctrine even as it stimulates theology.”

—Rev. Thomas Norris,
Lecturer in Dogmatic Theology
Pontifical University
St. Patrick’s College, Maynooth, Ireland
Member, International Theological Commission

“In this book, Sister Sara Butler aims to explain the Church’s teaching that women may not be ordained priests. In this she succeeds admirably, with her wonted clarity of expression, calmness of tone, and orderliness of exposition ... This is an excellent book; it should be accessible to a wide variety of readers, including non-specialists. On the other hand, specialists will want to see how someone of Sister Sara Butler’s breadth of scholarship and depth of learning attacks the problem and organizes the material.”

—Guy Mansini, OSB,
Associate Professor of Systematic Theology
St. Meinrad School of Theology

“[This] book is perhaps the fullest and fairest theological treatment we have from those who are opposed to women’s ordination…. Butler places the postconciliar discussion in a longer history. She has a deep appreciation of John Paul II’s own theological contributions, especially what he called the ‘Gospel innovation’ that establishes the full equality of women and men. She calls attention to aspects of Vatican teaching that are sometimes overlooked in this continuing discussion.”

—Robert J. Egan,
Commonweal Magazine
https://www.commonwealmagazine.org/why-not-0

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