Confronting William G. Witt's "Icons of Christ"

New and philosophically interesting critique from Cole Simmons writing at The North American Anglican (TNAA) of Witt's Icons of Christ: A Biblical and Systematic Theology for Women’s Ordination. The Rev'd Matt Colvin penned a 4-part review of Witt's book at TNAA shortly after its publication in 2020: Part 1; Part 2; Part 3; Part 4.  It is far more comprehensive than Cole's and is more of a point-by-point refutation.  

These articles in TNAA are mainly reflective of the ongoing battle between pro-WO and anti-WO factions in the Anglican Church in North America (ACNA), and as such they represent a struggle between Anglo-Protestants. Witt is Professor of Systematic Theology and Ethics at Trinity School for Ministry, an ACNA theological seminary.  Witt refers to himself and his pro-WO faction as "Reformation Christians", and Rev'd Colvin is a consummate Anglo-Protestant priest (er, "presbyter") and biblical scholar in the Reformed Episcopal Church, which is a founding member of and ecclesiastical partner with the ACNA. 

While these refutations of Witt's apologia are incisive and encouraging, they naturally presuppose, as I've intimated, a Protestant theological methodology and not a Catholic one.  For that I recommend the Rev'd Dr. Manfred Hauke's Women in the Priesthood?: A Systematic Analysis in the Light of the Order of Creation and Redemption. Hauke is a Catholic priest and has taught at the Universities of Augsburg and Lugano.  This book is, hands down, the best and most comprehensive treatment of the issue in print IMHO.  From the description at Amazon:

This book should become the standard reference in the debate about women's ordination. The author cites copiously from American as well as European sources and presents the feminist position in the words and categories of the leading feminist authors. But, for the first time, the whole question is placed in the comprehensive context of anthropology, biology, psychology, philosophy, and theology. You will find a balanced presentation of the profound consistency of the Catholic Church's teaching and the practice concerning the role of women in the Church and in society. Written in a scholarly, yet very readable manner.

And from Catholic theologian Hans Urs von Balthasar, an assessment with which I totally agree: "Undoubtedly the definitive work available on this important topic."

There is no Anglo-Catholic treatise that I know of that matches the breadth and precision of Hauke's work, so I would refer any Anglo-Catholic to it, as not all Catholic roads lead to Rome.  However, the scholarly responses to the un-Catholic monstrosity of womens' ordination from Anglo-Protestants at TNAA and elsewhere are welcome complementary sources.

Comments

[Cole]

Interesting book recommendation. Thanks. (And thanks for covering the essay at TNAA.)

What do you make of Witt's argument in chapter 3, that the Protestant and Catholic positions have both abandoned the traditional position by becoming, essentially, egalitarian (while he claims the traditional position was, essentially, chauvinist.)