Disgruntled nuns and other aging women, coming out to protest Church's "sexism" - Page 4

dwc · #46 Apr 21, '05, 12:41 pm

"They simply do not get it: The power and the glory belongs entirely to God. Our priests here on Earth are His humble servants who have answered His call. They have no power of their own."

This is how I've always felt about the women who insist the church is oppressing them because they can't be priests. Thanks for saying it more eloquently than I've ever been able to.

Strider · #47 Apr 21, '05, 12:56 pm

Speaking of her granddaughter, Scott said, "My dream for Sophia is to have a woman priest in every parish, and then I think Rome will understand that women are equal to men."

I guess she missed the lesson in the '70's, and in the '80's and in the '90's that equality of stature does not mean equality of function. She doesn't just want "euality with men," she wants to be a man. I think that's a real shame, because I've always been a little envious of a woman's active cooperation with God in the creative process. What a gift!.
These old hippies of my generation have thrown their lives away being bitter at their biology.
What a waste of human potential!

legeorge · #48 Apr 21, '05, 1:06 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Strider

Speaking of her granddaughter, Scott said, "My dream for Sophia is to have a woman priest in every parish, and then I think Rome will understand that women are equal to men."

I guess she missed the lesson in the '70's, and in the '80's and in the '90's that equality of stature does not mean equality of function. She doesn't just want "euality with men," she wants to be a man. I think that's a real shame, because I've always been a little envious of a woman's active cooperation with God in the creative process. What a gift!.
These old hippies of my generation have thrown their lives away being bitter at their biology.
What a waste of human potential!

And personally, I am offended by the implication by many feminists like this, that I am somehow subhuman because I am content to actually live my womanhood (i.e. "breeder"). I think the feminist movement turned out to be anti-woman.

chicago · #49 Apr 21, '05, 4:43 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Strider

Speaking of her granddaughter, Scott said, "My dream for Sophia is to have a woman priest in every parish, and then I think Rome will understand that women are equal to men."

heh. Sophia, gnostic goddess of wisdom.. figures.

Fitz · #50 Apr 21, '05, 4:44 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by legeorge

I think the feminist movement turned out to be anti-woman.

Yes, this is true. Did any of the feminisits come out to help Terri Schaivo? NO, because it is only liberal wormen they defend. It is not sickly, or conservative women. They only want the advancement of angry women. If let to win the fight, the race would die out.

chicago · #51 Apr 21, '05, 4:47 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fitz

However for those that did not hear, there was another march yesterday in the same area of orthodox faithful Catholic women that marched form one parish to the Cathedral as a way to support our new Pope. If I find that the MSM covered it I will post the link. I heard the woman that organized it on Relevant Radio yesterday. These type of events rarely make the news.

Well, did anybody bother to inform the media by issuing a press release or working inside connections? There is a method to the madness, afterall. I knew about the rally Monday night, but heard about it at a Mass. The news desk editors aren't likely clued into those channels. They need a call from a friend. Make some friends at City News and they'll get the word out on the dayplanner which gets sent to all the outlets.

sdnewbie · #52 Apr 21, '05, 4:59 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by legeorge

And personally, I am offended by the implication by many feminists like this, that I am somehow subhuman because I am content to actually live my womanhood (i.e. "breeder"). I think the feminist movement turned out to be anti-woman.

I agree 100% and find it rather sad that they haven't figured it out yet. Hopefully they will someday, God willing.

BayCityRickL · #53 Apr 21, '05, 5:22 pm

It seems that, politics aside, many women DO feel left out of the Church. They DO feel they do not have a voice. They DO feel the rub of true sexism that has been evident in the Church.

It's easy to de-personalize these women, but our attitude must be one of love. And, the Church, in particular the Pope, will undoubtedly or should undoubtedly seek a reconciliation with all members of the Church, active or inactive.

Fifty years ago, when our parish had three priests and twenty or more nuns, I don't know that everything went so smoothly, in reality. Did the priests simply look at them as sacristans and as laborers in the school? I think so. It might have been wiser to recruit them, according to their interest and ability, into pastoral roles.

The Vatican has recently approved lay people, including women, all of whom are properly qualified, to preach in Dutch churches, where there is a shortage of male clergy.

The Church should, in charity, utilize women in ministries where it is appropriate, even if Holy Orders is reserved to men.

I don't think that scripture is sexist, if it is properly understood. The false idea that it is sexist, is one that should be corrected by a suitable body of mixed scholars (male and female, that is).

Brad · #54 Apr 21, '05, 5:29 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by BayCityRickL

It seems that, politics aside, many women DO feel left out of the Church. They DO feel they do not have a voice. They DO feel the rub of true sexism that has been evident in the Church.

Example of sexism?

*pro-life_teen* · #55 Apr 21, '05, 5:33 pm

I DON"T GET IT!! I mean, how could these women say that what Mother Teresa, what all the women saints did, was not enough, was not a great way to serve the church? IMO, they want to be priests because they want POWER, but priests are SERVANTS, so they are wanting it for the wrong reasons.

I've had people randomly tell me they hope the church ordains women so that I could be a priest, which TOTALLY weirded me out and got me mad.

I guess its a compliment of sorts, but I just reply, "I really hope the Church doesn't ordain women, women shouldn't be priests for many reasons, least of all sexism."

ARRRG, ITS SO FRUSTURATING
especially because it seems like women are EVERYWHERE in the church, as EMHCs, lectors, servers, etc. its like what do you mean you don't have a role in the Church???! (my rant for the day)

Lisa N · #56 Apr 21, '05, 6:08 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by BayCityRickL

It seems that, politics aside, many women DO feel left out of the Church. They DO feel they do not have a voice. They DO feel the rub of true sexism that has been evident in the Church..

But just because someone FEELS a certain way does not mean those feelings are valid. I think we tend to become captive to ours and others' 'feelings' and people are literally talked into being outraged.

I always got a big howl out of my Protestant friends when I told them I was converting. They invariably asked "But how can you convert with the way they treat women?" I asked what they meant specifically as from my perspective there are more women who are prominent in Catholicism than ANY Protestant We honor Mary, there are many woman saints and if you ask a person on the street to name a famous Catholic, likely Mother Teresa's name would be one of the most commonly mentioned.

Women worship with men, they are instrumental in church operations, they are certainly very influential in many aspects of church life. We have women reading the liturgy. We have women cantors. We have women eucharistic ministers. They basically can do everything but become a priest. It all gets down to ordination. That's the one thing that woman want and cannot have.

Quote:

Originally Posted by BayCityRickL

It's easy to de-personalize these women, but our attitude must be one of love. And, the Church, in particular the Pope, will undoubtedly or should undoubtedly seek a reconciliation with all members of the Church, active or inactive.

The Vatican has recently approved lay people, including women, all of whom are properly qualified, to preach in Dutch churches, where there is a shortage of male clergy.

The Church should, in charity, utilize women in ministries where it is appropriate, even if Holy Orders is reserved to men.

I don't think that scripture is sexist, if it is properly understood. The false idea that it is sexist, is one that should be corrected by a suitable body of mixed scholars (male and female, that is).

Again women are VERY prominent in this as well as other churches. Other than becoming a priest, what else are they prevented from doing?

Lisa N

Fitz · #57 Apr 21, '05, 6:38 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lisa N

Again women are VERY prominent in this as well as other churches. Other than becoming a priest, what else are they prevented from doing?

Lisa N

Voting for the Pope. Apparently they want to vote. I don't agree with them, but am just reiterating what they said.

Neithan · #58 Apr 21, '05, 6:44 pm

Like someone already said, most of these women are over 50. This past generation (baby boomers) has really not been a good time for the doctrine of the faith. We'll just have to wait this one out, no one is going to convince these people, especially if an Encyclical from the pope himself is not enough.

It's tough for young men to say anything, because we're frowned on and dismissed as the next generation of potential oppressors, that's why it's in young catholic women's hands to uphold orthodoxy among themselves. I suppose in some ways it seems sexist, that women do not have 'equal opportunity' in the Church, that an entire sacrament (Holy Orders) is barred to them solely because they are women. But who are we to criticise what Christ instituted? What bothers me is that these liberal women don't realize that "Jesus was just following the custom of his time" for ordaining only males is a completely hollow argument. He outright rejected the "custom of His time," but still reserved the holy office for males. There really is no good way to explain the exclusion of Mary Magdalene or Mary Clopas from among the 12 other than that for whatever reason, however mysterious, this was a role for men.

In a way I'm glad that they aren't breaking off, becoming schismatics. They at least recognize that this is The Church, and that to leave her is to abandon the fullness of the faith. I hope they aren't staying catholics just because we don't ordain women and they want to change that for personal satisfaction or empowerment. That would be truly perverse. Anyway, wait it out, eventually they'll realize the futility of their protests and humble themselves, or the next generation of women enforce a strict orthodox discipline.