15576. CONTROVERSIES OVER THE ORDINATION OF WOMEN IN THE JUDEO-CHRISTIAN TRADITION. Orthodox Jews and Catholics prohibit women from being ordained, whereas the Protestant denominations and the Reform and Conservative branches of Judaism permit it. This paper argues that allowing women to be ordained has a positive impact on theory and practice; however, gender discrimination often persists in cases where women have become ordained. 12 pages, 42 footnotes, 9 bibliographic sources.