The Vatican and Ordaining Women - by Dr. Kluane Spake
Sunday, July 18th, 2010The Vatican and Ordaining Women
Dr. Kluane Spake http://kluane.org
On Thursday, July 16, 2010, the Vatican issued revisions to its internal laws. Bishops are now encouraged, but not required, to report rapist priests. That document includes a list of “more grave delicts” considered on par with raping children are “heresy, apostasy, schism” AND ordaining woman as priests….This document stated that ordaining women as priests was as grave an offense as pedophilia.
In fact, according to this document, those who are involved with ordaining women will automatically be excommunicated. But those clerics involved in raping children may or may not be reported, corrected, or excommunicated.
This news report causes me to remember an event in my life that caused these edicts no longer have power over me as a woman in ministry.
***
Several years ago, I received a fax, “You must meet me in Rome…”
It was an edict from Dr. Daisy Osborn. She took an interest in the fact that I was successfully pastoring a church in Guam… and she was the first person to actually encourage me in ministry! So, without hesitation, I flew 3/4 of the way around the world (had to go the long way) to Rome. Unfortunately, it turned out that Dr. Daisy became extremely sick and couldn’t make it at the last minute. Little did I know that she would soon pass away - but my coming to Rome was a Divine set-up!
That first day was spent walking for miles trying to see the old ruins and then going back to rest at the old but dignified hotel before our tour began the next day.
That night, I needed to iron some clothes. The rickety ironing board squeaked as it opened and tottered back and forth. The old-fashioned plug went into the receptacle above my head. As I ironed, the Lord startled me with a profound interruption. It was an audible and distinct instruction about what to do during this trip!
I gasped for breath and stammered, “Okay!”
At that precise moment of agreement the plug in the iron came apart and pieces of the sizzling sparking cord fell down across the side my body and onto to the faded, peeling tiled floor!
A huge loud noise caused me to jump back as the broken end of the cord exploded on the floor and burst into a ball of fire over one foot wide! it seemed to be an explanation point to that Divine command.
The explosion took out all the lights in the entire hotel for hoursl! I stomped at the fire to put out the last embers and then sat on the bed side in the dark, trembling and wondering what to do next? Obviously, it seemed that those instructions had been fairly important…
But what should be the next steps to take to obey the command?.
Minutes later, harsh knocking pounded my door. Still shaking, I felt my way in the dark, moved the ironing board, and opened the door. An unknown lady grabbed my arm and whispered, “I don’t know you or what you are doing… but the Lord just told me to come over and help you!”
Helen introduced herself as an Evangelist from Australia who had come to be on the same tour. We sat in the dark and I explained the plan. Then, we prayed for a long time and then swore to secrecy until the last day of our trip.
During the two week tour, we would glance at each other with knowing eyes – excitedly waiting for our last day… we were going back to the Vatican.
It is important to the story to remember that the Vatican declaration of 1976 stated that women can’t be ordained as priests because, “There must be a physical resemblance between the priest and Christ.
To the writers, that meant that the possession of male genitalia becomes the essential prerequisite for representing Christ, who because of His maleness is the disclosure in earthly culture of the male God.
The celibacy of the priest, confirming the celibacy of Jesus, linking both to a realm distant from — that of nature, embodiment, and the reproduction with women.”[1]
This declaration later states that women are incapable of receiving the “indelible character” of male reproductive organs necessary to handle ministry.
Knowing this fact, in no way reflects upon the present day Catholic believers — most of them are totally unaware of these statements!
However, this particular historical mandate is just one of many written throughout the ages (and even now), where those in ruling spiritual government established edicts to inhibit and impede the freedom of womankind throughout the world.
**
At last, the final day arrived. Helen and I said goodbye to all those on the tour. We packed up our things and left quickly to return to the Vatican. Vast crowds pressed each other that day – because the Pope was speaking from his outdoor balcony to the throngs of hopeful believers.
While he spoke, we hauled all our suitcases through the throng of people and entered Saint Peter’s Basilica. We stopped to rub the famous statues with oil that we had bought for this purpose. We pressed oil into the toe of Peter and onto the top of his supposed burial place. I slipped over the barrier and put oil on Michelangelo’s famous Pieta sculpture. The guards didn’t notice as we drug our luggage into the main vestibule and up the aisle of the main seating area.
“We are hidden as arrows in your quiver!” I muttered.
For a time, we knelt praying– waiting for the right moment. Out loud, I read all the Scriptures concerning that which was “hidden” that must come into view. Then we stood and I unhooked the chain that separated the seating area from the front.
The huge dark golden pillars loomed overhead as we approached the steps to the place where the pope stands to give communion. These stairs were roped off with a thick red velvet cord. Helen prayed even louder as I unfastened the red cord and climbed the stairs…
Taking a deep breath, I moved quickly to the center and stretched out my arms. I spoke loudly and with authority, “According to the Word of God, I am a prophet, priest, and king.”
Standing as “a PROPHET, PRIEST, AND KING” (in a place that forbids that thinking), I took authority over the wrongly translated restrictions concerning women in the home and church. I then invited the wedding to begin and the Bride of Christ to be revealed.
Here, under the canopy and at the very place that the Pope stands to minister communion, I stood alone. Here in the Church where woman have been forbidden to be a Priest and bless the Sacrament, under sacrosanct instructions, I became the Celebrant Mass Server.
Still, no guards saw me standing there. No one in the massive crowd of visitors noticed.
From that grand pulpit, I spoke firm decrees. The force of the Lady of Religion had to be met firmly with the greater force of Christ expressed in women.
From my other pocket, I carefully brought out the pieces of bread and the small vial of wine and held them high over my head with both hands, I blessed the Sacrament.
The boldest moment of my entire life – was breaking this bread.
Then, I walked down the steps to offer communion to Helen (whom I had brought along for that very purpose). Together, at the bottom of the stairs, we blessed the God of all ages. There, she gave me communion also.
Our final plan was summed up in my last words to Helen, “Let’s get away… fast!”
“Write me!” she hollered as we raced to our separate taxis and to the airport — never to see each other again.
I sighed, leaning my head back on the seat of the cab and suddenly realizing that I had been born for this very moment in time! It summarized my life and destiny purpose.
**
As we read about the recent decisions of the Vatican to forbid ordination of women, we need to realize that the force and power of their biased restrictions and prejudiced words have already been broken. For centuries, multitudes have prayed for the full release of God’s priesthood. We are already a royal priesthood and a holy nation. (2 Pet. 2:9).
This kind of prophetic action is also called pedagogy pa?da????? (paidagogeo; from pa?? (child) and ??? (lead). It is a means of teaching a premise by enacting it so that even a child can understand it. The ancient prophets would often enact events that were to come — odd things like lie on one side for days and then burn their hair. Prophetic enactment speaks Kingdom Truths into the natural realm.
It’s been many years since this event and still tears of thankfulness stream down my face as I think about how we are all part of God’s end time plan. Since that event, thousands of women have rightly become pastors, bishops, and apostles.
My Vatican experience stirs me to press toward defining true Apostolic Authority and correct governmental structures for the Church in this hour
Dr. Kluane Spake



