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Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith · Doctrinal Declaration

Inter Insigniores

Declaration on the Question of Admission of Women to the Ministerial Priesthood

Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith1976-10-15Current
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Overview

Explains the Church’s judgment that she is not authorized to admit women to priestly ordination, using Scripture, continuous tradition, sacramental symbolism, and Christ’s example.

Why This Document Matters

It is a principal doctrinal source for the reservation of priestly ordination to men and provides context for later definitive teaching.

Historical Context

Issued by the Sacred Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith with Paul VI’s approval amid contemporary questions about women and ordained ministry.

Authority and Status

Genre
Doctrinal Declaration
Authority class
Doctrinal Declaration of the Church’s doctrinal dicastery, approved or authorized by the Roman Pontiff as stated in the document
Juridical force
Doctrinal or disciplinary according to the document’s stated scope
Current status
Current
Promulgated
1976-10-15

A doctrinal-dicastery text whose authority is determined by its genre, contents, papal approval, and the authority of the teachings it reiterates.

Key Points

Clergy & Holy OrdersEcclesiologySacraments & Liturgy

Major Themes

Clergy & Holy OrdersEcclesiologySacraments & Liturgy

Document Relationships

Related records
Ordinatio Sacerdotalis

Related CatholicG33k Resources

Resources · Church Documents→Resources · Catechism→

Official Text

Inter Insigniores

The official document text is hosted by the Holy See. CatholicG33k provides contextual and educational material but does not reproduce the complete Vatican text here.

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