As a podcast guest on Seeking the Beyond – Theology with Johnno, hosted by John Crain Welsby, our discussion delved into the hidden history of the Catholic Church—history that remains unknown to many Catholics today. We explored the fascinating revelations documented in John Wijngaards’ book, The Ordination of Women in the Catholic Church.

One of the most extraordinary discoveries we discussed involves Jesus’ own mother, Mary. According to historical findings, Mary was a woman priest, referred to as “Mary Priest.” Her title was remarkable: “The Model for All Priesthood in the Catholic Church.” In the early centuries of Catholicism, women held roles as bishops, deacons, and priests—facts that challenge the modern understanding of Church leadership.

The premise of my book, Scandal in the Shadows: The Original Priest – Mother Mary, and my podcast, Your Radical Truth at www.YourRadicalTruth.com/podcast/, is to bring these radical truths to light. The central issue of women’s ordination within the Church has become contentious, largely because the historical precedent for women in these roles has been neither acknowledged nor disclosed by the Church hierarchy. It is critical for women within the Catholic Church to not only become aware of but also deeply understand this significant aspect of their religious history.

What has been lost in this suppression of truth is the rich, centuries-old religious heritage experienced by the male half of the Church. Women, on the other hand, have been denied the opportunity to participate in and celebrate a generational religious legacy. Despite this, the spirituality of women in the Church has remained strong. Women have continually been open to hearing God’s call, even while being denied the ability to answer that call due to the Church hierarchy’s imposition of man-made Canon law.

This patriarchal view, which hinges on gender as the determining factor for eligibility in the priesthood, stands in stark contrast to the values of equality and dignity espoused by Jesus himself. One must ask: what happened to Jesus’ vision of equality and inclusivity? How long will the Church hierarchy continue to let man-made laws overshadow divine calling?