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(51,122 posts) Wed Apr 3, 2013, 08:36 PM Apr 2013

Pope stresses "fundamental" value of women in Church [View all]

Source: Reuters

ROME (Reuters) - Pope Francis stressed the "fundamental" importance of women in the Roman Catholic Church on Wednesday, a message hailed as a significant shift from the position of his predecessor Benedict.

"In the Church, and in the journey of faith, women have had and still have a special role in opening doors to the Lord," Francis told thousands of pilgrims at his weekly audience in S. Peter's Square.

He said that in the Bible, women were not recorded as witnesses to Christ's resurrection because of the Jewish Law of the time that did not deem women or children to be reliable witnesses.

"In the Gospels, however, women have a primary, fundamental role ... The evangelists simply narrate what happened: the women were the first witnesses. This tells us that God does not choose according to human criteria," Francis said.

Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/pope-stresses-fundamental-importance-women-church-131722873.html

61 replies

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Pope stresses "fundamental" value of women in Church [View all] onehandle Apr 2013 OP

But if he had to choose between saving your life or your fetus, ladies, he'd go with your fetus MotherPetrie Apr 2013 #1

You took the words right out of my mouth. forestpath Apr 2013 #3

+100 Canuckistanian Apr 2013 #24

Yes. Rather than applaud a small step in the right direction, you choose to make a cheap shot. Tommy_Carcetti Apr 2013 #59

Emphasis on "small." Meanwhile, women will continue to die. Nothing's much cheaper than the regard MotherPetrie Apr 2013 #61

As long as they're not equal, other stuff is OK I guess. HERVEPA Apr 2013 #2

But let's face it, God made man FIRST progressoid Apr 2013 #4

Some women in the Catholic church don't see it that way.. midnight Apr 2013 #6

"and her living teaching authority" Voice for Peace Apr 2013 #10

Many years ago while attending Mass, a male priest, declared God was both man and woman... midnight Apr 2013 #29

women plural? that would be a good one Voice for Peace Apr 2013 #31

"God is defined as being made of one man and an infinite number of women" Voice for Peace Apr 2013 #32

Sorry it must of been a Freudian slip... Meant to type woman.... midnight Apr 2013 #46

Then they should join the multitude of Christian churches... MellowDem Apr 2013 #13

I agree... midnight Apr 2013 #30

Christ chose his apostles only from circumcised Jewish males. So therefore ....... SharonAnn Apr 2013 #16

Actually, one of Christ's most important apostles was a woman, Mary TygrBright Apr 2013 #38

Stupid question... Flying Squirrel Apr 2013 #5

But what about his wife, who was described as a prostitute by the fiction writers a few hundred MADem Apr 2013 #21

Tea Party conservatives are more progressive than the Pope... MellowDem Apr 2013 #7

89+ recs. onehandle Apr 2013 #11

Actually, it's great to be naysaing MellowDem Apr 2013 #15

This OP has 25 recs, not 89 and it sucks to be a mendacious promoter of homophobic sexists Bluenorthwest Apr 2013 #43

"fundamental" (what a great word)--just not equal. niyad Apr 2013 #8

Message auto-removed Name removed Apr 2013 #9

Of course they are important to church leaders. pennylane100 Apr 2013 #12

Replaced? bitchkitty Apr 2013 #49

Thousands of catholics get divorced each year pennylane100 Apr 2013 #50

They might get divorced but when they do, bitchkitty Apr 2013 #55

I think 60,000 annulments a year is quite a significant number. pennylane100 Apr 2013 #56

look Francis DonCoquixote Apr 2013 #14

Back when Paul said that women should be silent...... musical_soul Apr 2013 #17

To be completely fair, there were competing religions at the time where women played the key roles. dimbear Apr 2013 #39

Did any other woman just feel MsPithy Apr 2013 #18

How about this? JDPriestly Apr 2013 #25

I was shocked at the fact that no Pope had washed a woman's feet, in Protestant Churches they sure Bluenorthwest Apr 2013 #44

I hope this spirit leads to women clergy. hrmjustin Apr 2013 #19

Me too. nt onehandle Apr 2013 #28

No way!! SkyDaddy7 Apr 2013 #41

I think the seeds may be planted... AngryOldDem Apr 2013 #58

Hopefully something big happens in the news soon. ForgoTheConsequence Apr 2013 #20

So don't read. 840high Apr 2013 #23

Don't be silly. ForgoTheConsequence Apr 2013 #27

You made me smile. Hugs. 840high Apr 2013 #52

The Church moves very slowly. Beacool Apr 2013 #22

My mythology isn't really as hateful as the holy books describe it.. snooper2 Apr 2013 #26

Actually, Mary Magdalene was the first witness but the male disciples didn't believe her. intheflow Apr 2013 #33

More like they don't want to... MellowDem Apr 2013 #35

Actually in Catholic schools NastyRiffraff Apr 2013 #53

What? Really?! indivisibleman Apr 2013 #34

A "special" role... MellowDem Apr 2013 #36

"God does not choose according to human criteria." But that is exactly what... Peace Patriot Apr 2013 #37

Yes. The same thing struck me. Tom Rinaldo Apr 2013 #47

Compare Apollonius of Tyana, who has a comparable story arc to Jesus, but who chose as his chief dimbear Apr 2013 #40

fundamental.... madrchsod Apr 2013 #42

Anti Choice and Anti Gay this Pope is like Fred Phelps. Bluenorthwest Apr 2013 #45

Honestly, a pro-choice Pope would be kinda weird Ter Apr 2013 #60

You have the Gospels PATRICK Apr 2013 #48

I'm interested in seeing how conservative Catholics react--I hope he watches his back bklyncowgirl Apr 2013 #51

Cardinal parade justhanginon Apr 2013 #54

AND ......!/? burrowowl Apr 2013 #57