Abstract

In the month of June 1994, after the publication of the Apostolic Letter Ordinatio Sacerdotalis, a storm of criticism burst in Flanders. By means of this letter, Pope John Paul II declared that priestly ordination is definitively to be reserved to men alone. The authors analysed readers' letters, columns and newspaper articles surrounding the controversy. First, it is argued that the criticism broke a presumed rather than a factual consensus. Next, all arguments for and against women priests are considered. Finally, it is shown that the discussion concerning the ordination of women is embedded in an ongoing debate about differing models of the Church, including ideas about the Pope, the priestly office, the relation between Church and society, the role of women and men in the Church, etc.

How to Cite:

Van Meerbeek, A. & Verlinden, A., (1995) “De Juni-storm: een sociologische doorlichting van enkele reacties na het verschijnen van Ordinatio Sacerdotalis”, Tijdschrift voor Sociologie 16(1), 5–29. doi: https://doi.org/10.21825/sociologos.86207