Woman priest wows church
Celebrated first Mass on Sunday
By Sarah Milnar
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On Sunday she celebrated her first Mass at Jesus Our Shepherd in Nenno, Wis.
"It's so much emotion and such intensity to say Eucharist for the first time," Iaquinta said.
On Aug. 12, 2007, Iaquinta was ordained to the priesthood through an organization called Roman Catholic Womenpriests.
RCWP is an international initiative that spiritually prepares, ordains and supports theologically qualified men and women who are called to minister within the Roman Catholic Church, according to the RCWP Web site.
RCWP began in Europe but now has six regions in the United States and two in Canada. Iaquinta said the women got together quarterly for retreats and seminars and corresponded through conference calls and e-mails.
Currently there are 13 candidates in the Midwest pipeline for priesthood preparation, Iaquinta said.
But the Roman Catholic Church does not recognize the women as priests.
"It needs to be clear that her actions are outside of Catholic Church teaching," said Kathleen Hohl, Archdiocese of Milwaukee communications director.
Hohl said that Archbishop Timothy Dolan referred the matter to the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, a Vatican office responsible for overseeing Catholic Doctrine.
Members of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith will review the case and determine how to deal with the matter, Hohl said.
Published: 9/18/07 Section: News
