As many of our readers already know, Chava Redonnet of Rochester was pretend ordained a priest yesterday afternoon at the excommunicated Spiritus Christi church in downtown Rochester. Four other women also played dress-up yesterday, including one who became a fake priest, and three who became fake deacons (one of these three women is from Rochester as well). Today’s Democrat & Chronicle featured a brief article on this event, buried away on the third page of the B section. In it, Ms. Redonnet makes it clear that she is going through with her fake ordination not because she feels a true calling from God to serve Him and His people, but because she wishes to defy the Church and be a progressive trailblazer. In my opinion, these are not good reasons for anyone to become a priest.

Here are excerpts from the article, with emphasis and commentary:

“Chava Redonnet was ordained a priest in Rochester on Saturday in what she considers to be an act of ecclesiastical disobedience [Because that’s all this really is].

Although the Roman Catholic Church prohibits the ordination of women as priests, deacons and bishops, Redonnet considers herself to be Catholic and hopes to move the church in a more inclusive direction [She wishes to be a trailblazer and rule-changer, not necessarily a good and holy priest-ess].

About 350 people attended [That’s it? Even Sr. Joan Sobala’s St. Anne draws more people for weekend Mass!] the ordination at Spiritus Christi Church in Rochester.

…

She [Fake bishop Andrea Johnson] went on to say: “God’s work is the work of justice and peace for all [Again, this whole event is not about answering a call to serve God; it’s just one big political statement against the Catholic Church].”

…

But in an interview, Redonnet, 52, of Rochester, said that she has the training to be a Catholic priest.

“The only thing that is different is that we are women. And that’s not justice,” said Redonnet, who was previously ordained a deacon.

Redonnet has a master’s degree in divinity from Colgate Rochester Crozer Divinity School and is the chaplain at St. Joseph’s House of Hospitality [To which the DoR sends priests] in Rochester. She has done work as a chaplain at Strong Memorial Hospital and St. John’s Home. She is also a peacemaker with the Presbytery of Genesee Valley.

…

Redonnet, who likens her ordination to a religious version of civil disobedience, said that change for justice never comes from the top but rather from the grass-roots [What of serving God and His people? Is this all you care about???].”

I think it’s very clear from the article that the only thing on Chava’s mind is the political statement she is making.

Note: Image at top is not from the ordination, but from your run of the mill Spiritus service.

Tags: News and Media, Spiritus Christi

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