Diocese: Toledo woman ordained as priest faces excommunication - WICU12/WSEE Erie, PA News, Sports, Weather and Events

In front of dozens of supporters, Beverly Bingle, a 68-year-old lifelong Roman Catholic was ordained Saturday a priest by a bishop from a group called "Roman Catholic WomanPriests."

Beverly was excited. "I am ecstatic. It was so uplifting seeing all those people coming out and form a community like this. I'm really looking forward to serving them."

This ordination is not recognized by the Diocese of Toledo. Women are excluded from serving as priests in the Roman Catholic Church.

In a statement, the Diocese says according to Cannon Law, Bingle's participation in what they call an "invalid" and "illicit" attempt at ordination means an automatic excommunication from the church.

Reverend Bingle isn't worried. "Well, I'm not really excommunicated from the Catholic faith. The hierarchy refuses to give me communion in a Catholic Church building, but the many people of God are giving me communion all the time.

Supporter Rich Goheen says, "I think there's a place for both. I think this is where things are headed. I think as time passes, as we get further into the future, there's gonna be more things like this. There's gonna be more women as priests."

Beverly agrees. "I think the hierarchy is wrong. I think that eventually they will come around to understanding that God also calls women to the priesthood."

Right now, Reverend Bingle plans to more forward by creating a small faith community, a group of people who will pray together in the traditions of the Roman Catholic Church.

Bingle officiated at her first mass on Sunday evening at the Unity Church on Executive Parkway.

Bingle said she couldn't ignore the call to the priesthood. "God calls. And God can call anyone, it doesn't matter who they are, how old they are, what their gender orientation is, what their marital status is; if God calls, they need to answer."