Ordination ‘attempts’

May I call attention to the article of Denis Murphy, regarding the attempt to ordain women (“Trouble brewing,” Inquirer, 6/11/12).

As far as the law and teaching of the Roman Catholic Church are concerned, no ordination took place (therefore, it is invalid, contrary to what was stated, and it is at the same time illicit). We call such acts “attempts” inasmuch as no sacramental effect takes place in such invalid acts.

The same invalidity of the sacrament is held by the Church in cases when a validly ordained priest in the Latin Rite attempts to marry a woman before any deacon, priest or bishop. Canon Law 1024 says: “A baptized male alone receives sacred ordination validly.”

—FR. DEN MARK MALABUYOC, OSJ,

Rome, Italy