text: While you are of course right that "the church will eventually ordain women to each of the three clerical orders," I beg to quibble as to whether Francis "is just plain wrong." 
  
  As reported here, Francis first said "On the ordination of women in the Catholic church, the last word is clear...It was given by St. John Paul II and this remains;" and then in reply to the further question as to whether this means forever, Francis said "If we read carefully the declaration made by St. John Paul II, it goes in that direction."
  
  This surely is absolutely correct...in the mind of St. JP2, his decision was forever. I recall reading at the time that JP had wanted to make an infallible proclamation to this effect, but was persuaded not  to do so by none other that Ratzinger. So they developed (together?) and new brand of papal statement significance, and JP2 declared his declaration against women priests as "definitive."
  
  (continued)