Headline: "Vatican cracks down on attempts to ordain women"

I've been reading the headlines from last week, but suffice it to say that once again the media is trying to make a big deal about old news, or in this case, an old teaching that is simply being repeated.

Sometimes it helps to have a memory that extends more than a couple weeks. Like Carl Olson.

In fairness, something is new here, namely, how these things are treated by Rome:

As of today, though, all of that has changed: The Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith has just decreed that those who attempt to confer holy Orders on women are excommunicated, as are the women who attempt to receive holy Orders. The decree goes into effect immediately.

Canon Lawyer Edward Peters gives us the details.

For a sociologist's take on this issue, see David Carlin at Inside Catholic.