The Vatican is still trying to convince Catholics that women cannot be ordained. This time it may have convinced the world that they should be. The Vatican recently decreed that anyone participating in woman’s ordination is automatically excommunicated. The edict was prompted by two converging phenomena: increasing realization among bishops of their own powers, and a growing public acceptance of women’s ordination. Who can ordain? And, who can be ordained? The men in Rome say it is a crime to ordain women. The rest of the world is starting to think it’s a crime not to.

(Phyllis Zagano is senior research associate-in-residence at Hofstra University and author of several books in Catholic Studies.)