The Roman Catholic Church has consistently refused to ordain women priests; this practice dates back centuries. BA Robinson states: “The Pope has declared infallible the teaching that the Church cannot ordain women to the priesthood either now or at any time in the future.” (Robinson) I think the ordination of women to the priesthood should be permitted for the following reasons: There is no scriptural evidence to support the exclusion; Jesus' choice of all male apostles set the tone for the future denial of women in a leadership role. There is a sharp decline in the number of priests with an increase in the number of Catholics and the New Testament brought about changes with it a new priesthood was established. The introduction of Vatican II rewrote much of the tradition of our Catholic Church; however, the ordination of women was not one of them. Furthermore, the first evidence supporting the ordination of women as deacons, priests and bishops was discovered. Evolution and cultural change require change within the Catholic Church. If the Church does not reconsider its position on the ordination of women, the archdiocese will have no alternative but to close more parishes across the United States. Opening the priesthood to women and those with a calling will reduce priest shortages and the need to close parishes. I come to you, Father Gene, asking for your help in appealing to the Archdiocese to reconsider what has historically been the norm of excluding women from ordination to the priesthood. According to John Wijngaards (Wijngaards) in 1976, the international biblical experts of the Pontifical Biblical Commission concluded, by a majority of twelve to five, there were no scriptural objections to the ordination of women to the priesthood. ...... half of the sheet ......neralibus Title III Decrees and General Instructions." December 2007. "L "Osservatore Romano". 6 April 2011 .VI, His Holiness Pope Paul. http://www.vatican.va/archive/hist_councils/ii_vatican_council/. 18 November 1965. 11 April 2011 .Wijngaards, Giovanni. Association for the rights of Catholics in the Church. September 17, 1998. April 10, 2011. Williams, Mary E. Gale Group. 2006. March 18 2011 .