September 1, 2010 9:00AM

Such was the headline on AzCentral.com on August 31st. When we read a headline such as that we should immediately realize that something isn't quite right. We have a similar reaction when we read a headline in the grocery store checkout line that says, "Lindsay Lohan Abducted by Aliens," or "Elvis Spotted Working at a Haberdashery in Greenwich Village." We would be correct in wondering why a reporter of a seemingly legitimate news outlet is offering such a salacious headline? No doubt news outlets are desperate and will author misleading headlines to try to increase readership. Of course, we also could consider the possibility that such publications offer as much truth or value as the common checkout line tabloids.

Now let us consider whether or not the Catholic Church ordained a woman. Well what does it take to be a member of the Catholic Church? It is Christ who made Peter the visible head of His Church on earth; so if people acknowledge Peter as such and seek to be in communion with him they are presumably Catholic. Who is Peter? Pope Benedict XVI. Yet, these supposed "catholics" blatantly deny his authority and central teachings of the Catholic faith.

Next, what do we call people who disagree with the Pope, reject the teachings of the Catholic Church and decide that they will branch out and form their own worshipping community? We call them Protestants. Why, because they are protesting against the Church and the Holy Father. They have left the Church of Rome and have started something else. The fact that they call themselves Catholic doesn't change the reality that they no longer are what they were. Let's give a simple example. What do you call a baseball player who no longer plays baseball? A former baseball player. What do you call a Catholic who no longer adheres to the Catholic faith? A former Catholic.

But why can't women be ordained, some may still ask? Because they are women. But is that unjust? Only if women have a right to be ordained. Injustice only exists when a right is being denied someone. No one has the right to be ordained, no matter their gender. Furthermore, the Catholic Church does not believe she has the right to change something that Jesus instituted, namely, the all male priesthood. Finally, the act of ordination implies the conferral of some power from a legitimate authority. What exactly happened to that woman who was "ordained" by a self-proclaimed "bishop" who is not of the Catholic Church and who has no actual authority to confer upon anyone? Quite simply, nothing.