What Catholic Women Want

[SecularMotion]

When Pope Francis convened his now-famous press conference aboard the papal plane during his trip home from World Youth Day, he drew international attention with his comments on homosexuality, specifically his words, “Who am I to judge?” (Only the leader of the world’s 1.2 billion Catholics.)

But many in the church eyebrows.and hopes were also raised when the first Jesuit pope called for a “deeper theology of women.”

It’s true that Francis dismissed the possibility of women’s ordination to the priesthood, calling it a “closed door.” But he also noted “a lack of a theological development” when it comes to the female half of the world’s population and proclaimed that “the role of the woman in the church mustn’t only end as mom and worker.”

The pope said women are “more important than the bishops and priests” and referenced debates over women in the church, implying that the controversy over whether women can be altar servers, lectors and heads of major organizations is over.

http://m.washingtonpost.com/local/what-catholic-women-want/2013/08/22/bb2df208-0b59-11e3-9941-6711ed662e71_story.html

[Warpy]

1. The angriest I ever saw my mother

was when she got home after a stuffed shirt of a priest had given a sermon on women's roles and announced the only place for women in the church was in cleaning it.

The most disappointed I've ever been in her was that she didn't get up and walk out.

(I'd ditched the whole thing, told them I'd gone early)

[PDJane]

3. The angriest I've seen my mother about the church

Was the day that the local prostitute was told that her money was welcome, but she couldn't have the pew she'd just paid for. Agnes grabbed the envelope, and the woman, and walked out.

[Kath1]

6. Sounds like me, Warpy.

I'd ditch church, go to the local strip mall and sit on a nice bench drinking coffee, reading and smoking cigarettes. "told them I'd gone early" - Me too until I told them I just couldn't take it anymore.

[dimbear]

2. There are closed doors, and there are also crowbars. n/t

[rug]

4. It is an opportunity.

Pat Gohn, a Catholic author of a recent book on the church and women, sees the potential for a renewed Catholic theology of women to “have a ripple effect in civil society,” due to the global reach of the church.

The impact could not only touch those in desperate poverty, but also women in the developed world who still struggle in other ways.

[cbayer]

5. Very good article and a reason for optimism.

I hope "they" are listening.

[edhopper]

7. Wow

the Church is approaching the 19th century and people applaud?

If it was any other institution, the condemnation of this behavior would be endless.

Name me one secular institution which, if it said "we cannot accept women in any leadership position, but maybe they can be more than maids." wouldn't be lauded in this way?

[rug]

8. The Masons.

[edhopper]

9. And they aren't criticized

and considered an antiquated irrelevant dinosaur?

[rug]

10. They are but they are still influential.

[edhopper]

11. Only in the sense of

an old boy network.

I haven't ever seen an "endorsed by the Mason's" as a political ad.

[Mariana]

19. The Masons are not secular.

Prospective members are asked if they believe in a Supreme Being before they are initiated. If they say "no," they are not permitted to join.

[cbayer]

12. Are you suggesting that religious organizations are the only ones in

which there is misogyny or patriarchy?

There are so many male dominated organizations and professions where women are denied leadership positions.

When is the last time you saw a professional female quarterback - or any player for that matter.

Look at the statistics regarding CEO's for Fortune 500 companies.

There are still country clubs and golf courses where women aren't allowed to be members or can only access the facilities at certain times.

I could go on and on.

While it's sometimes codified and sometimes not, it's almost always there in male dominated organizations.

[edhopper]

13. No

But being codified with the exception of small private clubs is rare and for an organization the size of the Church, illegal in most cases. (though religion gets an exemption of course)

There are women CEOs as hard as it is for them to achieve, and there are many, many women in management. There are no woman priest in the RCC and there is no talk of letting them happen.

But it's nice of you to defend them with the "others do it to" ploy.

I did not say they are unique (obviously since i mention the republicans) I said they are being lauded for statements that bring them up to the Victorian age at best.


Find me a 6'5" woman who can throw like Aaron Rodgers and we can talk about quarterbacks.

On the other hand we thankfully have title 9.

[cbayer]

14. I'm not defending any of them.

I think it's outrageous and I am hopeful that women like this author will slowly erode these archaic practices.

This woman is being lauded for taking a stand. Why would that be a problem?

Sexism is pretty much everywhere - worse in some areas than others. It should be addressed wherever it is found, including both religious and non-religious organizations.

And those that have made it a point to address the issues and change their rules deserve kudos.

[edhopper]

15. I meant the Pope

is lauded for making statements that, to me, are nothing but lip service with no real promise of change.

[cbayer]

16. Who is lauding the pope? Certainly not the author of this piece.

[edhopper]

17. Rereading this thread

I might have gotten it confused with another thread when I responded. (Perhaps about his comments of gay priests)

[cbayer]

18. No biggie. I've done that on more than one occasion.