The Ordination of Women and Anglican-Roman Catholic Dialogue

The ordination of women belongs in the hierarchy of truths neither in the level concerned with revealed truth about salvation, nor in the level concerned with revealed truth about the means of salvation. Rather it belongs to a third group of beliefs and practice which are taught authentically, which are not revealed doctrine but which are related to revealed doctrine. Since the Roman Catholic exclusion of women from ordination is not deigned doctrine, nor a matter of revealed truth concerning salvation or the means of salvation, but rather authentic teaching on a matter whose relationship to revelation is a matter of theological debate, it ought not be seen as a dogmatic barrier towards growth in union with the Anglican Communion.