It is an issue which has dogged the Roman Catholic Church for centuries - whether women can be ordained as priests.
One priest who has devoted himself to campaigning for women priests has now assembled what he believes is concrete historical evidence showing that women were ordained in the early Church.
John Wijngaards joins Martha to tell her why this precedent leaves the Vatican with no choice but to ordain women - a view staunchly opposed by writer Joanna Bogle of the Association of Catholic Women. 'No Women in Holy Orders? The Women Deacons of the Early Church' by John Wijngaards, published by Canterbury Press; ISBN: 185311507X They are reconstructing the ancient ordination rite, to demonstrate that it was a true ordination for women. The function will take place on Saturday 18 January 2003, 12.00 noon - 14.30 pm at St. James Piccadilly in the centre of London.
