Wednesday, 9th July 2008
Her (Amazing) Grace the Bishop
This year the Catholic Church is celebrating the 20th anniversary of Pope John Paul II’s Apostolic Letter Mulieris Dignitatem (The Dignity of Women). In it the Pontiff refers to “the genius of women” and so, two decades later, several seminars in different parts of the Roman Catholic Church are studying how (whether?) “this genius” is being celebrated.
Several developments have been recorded and, depending on perspective of course, they are being viewed as major or minor ones in which either real progress is made or tokenism simply affirmed.
A Fateful Leap
I don’t think that this anniversary or its 'genius' reference played any role in the controversial decision of the General Synod of the Church of England in favour of making women eligible to become bishops.
While the Catholic Church is studying the steps it took in the last twenty years, the Anglican Church decided to take a veritable plunge. Those in favour are calling it a leap forward. Several women groups – and not just women groups - are lauding this decision for it recognises the dignity and equality of women. In a certain sense the decision is the logical consequence of another controversial one taken by the Anglican community ten years ago: the ordination of women priests.
Those against call it a fall into the chasm. The vote came in spite of the fact that more than a thousand clergymen threatened to leave the Church of England unless sufficient safeguards were put in place for those who objected to women bishops. One has got to see now whether the compromise reached will accommodate the dissenters and manage to keep them within the fold. The compromise will take the form of a "national code of practice," which could include suggesting a woman bishop delegate her duty of care towards objectors to a "complementary bishop" who would be male.
Final legislation that would lead to the ordination of a woman bishop within the Anglican congregation is considered to be about two or three years away from completion.
Four hundred and eighty clergymen had left the Church of England, mostly for the Roman Catholic Church, when women were allowed to be ordained. Seventy subsequently returned.
Regret or condemnation?
According to Reuters the ”Vatican condemns Anglicans on women bishops.” On reading the communiqué issued by the Vatican the word “condemnation” is nowhere to be seen. The Vatican uses the word “regret”. Quite a difference, isn’t it?
In a statement the Vatican said that "such a decision signifies a break with the apostolic tradition maintained by all of the Churches since the first millennium and is, therefore, a further obstacle to reconciliation between the Catholic Church and the Church of England. … This decision will have consequences on the future of dialogue, which had up until now borne fruit.”
Before that vote, Cardinal Walter Kasper, the Vatican's chief ecumenist, had told top members of the Church of England that ordaining women bishops would mean that the goal of restoring full communion between Catholics and Anglicans "would realistically no longer exist" because it could not exist "without full communion in the episcopal office." He had said a further consequence of a resolution in favour of women bishops would be that the Catholic Church would inevitably continue to refuse to recognize the validity of Anglican orders.
Some fire in the debate
Archbishop Cremona set up an ad hoc committee to organise activities marking the 20th anniversary of Mulieris Dignitatem too. The committee was set up to raise awareness. More than half the year has passed by and not many have been made aware. So let me put forward a couple of suggestions that, perhaps, can put some fire into the debate.
This committee should put forward for discussion a manifesto proposing concrete actions that should be taken by the Church in Malta to raise the status of women and could start by circulating a request for topics to go on the agenda. Mine are the following:
- a proposal for the introduction of a quota system establishing the minimum number of women that should be members and/or chairpersons of Church commissions;
- the minimum number of Bishop’s delegates who should be women.
- The adoption of an advanced family friendly policy that will be followed rigorously by all places of work owned by the Church.
Over to you now, women and men of the Church.
Female Theologians
A lecture course I taught earlier this year in the Faculty of Theology was attended by seven females, one layman and two seminarians – also males. When I studied theology – more moons back than I care to remember – the class was solidly made of seminarians. To-day it’s a totally different story.
More and more lay persons are interested in studying theology. Some are students from other faculties who top their core credits with a number of credits from the Faculty of Theology. Others study the subject part time but a good number – males and females – are studying it full time. Several continue with post graduate studies and one or two female students are completing their doctorate in theology in universities overseas.
The Faculty offers certificates, diplomas, undergraduate and post graduate courses in a subjects varying from youth ministry, to pastoral theology and bio-ethics. Doubters and seekers are finding such studies stimulating, enriching and interesting.
One expects that the female theologians graduating from the Faculty will help the church shed a lot of the clerical and male chauvinistic mentalities that exist so that we can finally discover and appreciate the genius of women.
(The website of the Faculty of Theology can be accessed at http://www.um.edu.mt/theology)
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Statistic taken in the U. K. reveiled that it was not the right remedy, on the contrary, situations deteriorated with complications. Reports published by “Institute for Families Policies”, experienced a fall in marriage rate over 33% since 1980. One expected more marriages and not less, since it gives a right to remarriage. So why Divorce, if this caused us more harm than good in society ?
Those married before the years 1969 more than 90% are still living together. This study if taken up by all concerned, church and Authorities, could find the cracks, and marriages be saved from breakdowns. By neglecting services to a vehicle, this won't last you life-time, but maybe 2/3 years. This applies to building, one day, it might suddenly also break-up.
With marriages, if one does not build it up-front on solid foundation, when trouble comes, it could break-down when first quarrel comes up, and could follow with separation too. Prevention is better than cure!
No one is denying that. If it wasn't so, change would not be suggested.
Regarding priesthood ordained by Jesus, I fail to find anything in the Bible suggesting that Jesus wished priesthood to be reserved to men. In fact, some theologians even go as far to claim that Mary Magdalene and other women were apostles too.
Regarding priesthood having historically always been reserved to men, this is no surprise considering the perception of women at the time. St Paul, for instance, always insisted that women should never hold positions of authority.
Times change, people learn and become less prejudiced. Priesthood for women in this day and age is not such a big deal anymore.
Priestly ordination, which hands on the office entrusted by Christ to his Apostles of teaching, sanctifying and governing the faithful, has in the Catholic Church from the beginning always been reserved to men alone. The priesthood is a special role specially set out by Jesus when He chose a dozen men out of His group of male and female followers. In doing so, He exercised the same freedom with which, in all His behavior, He emphasized the dignity and the vocation of women, without conforming to the prevailing customs and to the traditions sanctioned by the legislation of the time.
When all is said and done, the presence and the role of women in the life and mission of the Church, although not linked to the ministerial priesthood, remain absolutely necessary and irreplaceable.
Regarding "that one should not speak in terms of 'importance' but rather in terms of taking one’s rightful place 'within Christ’s messianic service'", when the dispute in question is about whether women have or have not the right to give their service as priests, saying that one should not speak in terms of taking one's rightful place is just another way of saying that women should not be entitled to become priest, without giving reasons why.
Simply saying that priesthood is not women's "rightful place" simply begs the question: Why not?
As JP II wrote quite aptly in Mulieris Dignitatem, “the key event in the history of salvation” is realized in and through Mary, the Mother of Jesus, who by her courageous ‘yes’ to the God, is the supreme model of the woman (or man, for that matter) who freely cooperates in establishing Church, through the most intimate possible union with God, out of the fullness of her own identity as a woman. Holy Scripture gives testimony to her strength, as she supported her Son’s mission throughout, right up to her presence at the foot of His Cross. In Acts, we are told that she is praying with the Apostles at Pentecost. I think that the Blessed Mother is the best example of a “role in position of importance”.
However, I feel that one should not speak in terms of “importance” but rather in terms of taking one’s rightful place “within Christ’s messianic service”. It is precisely this “royal dignity of service” which constitutes the very foundation of God’s Kingdom – “the dignity which is joined in the closest possible way to the vocation of every person”, irrespective of being male or female (MD 5).
@Kenneth Cassar You are right we might disagree on a few issues but as long as we keep it in a respectful manner
@Alessandra Dee Crespo Well said, and what a beautiful unique roll the woman have, It was a nun that ran to me in the hospital when I screamed for my mom as I seen her leave the hospital and it was that same nun that would come to me a point at my mom as she was entering the hospital to see me.She would point to my mom a say to me. I told you she'll be back. To that nun, where ever you are!! I LOVE YOU.
In not ordaining women priests, the Church isn't limiting us; it’s recognizing our unique role in the church. The presence and the role of women in the life and mission of the Church… remains absolutely necessary and irreplaceable. We are not less holy, less intellectually capable, less pastorally sensitive, or less capable of leadership than men. We are capable of all this but we are invited to exercise them differently. The priesthood is misconstrued in terms of domination, power, and exultation; it is properly understood in terms of service, love, and sacrifice, and there are more than enough opportunities for both men and women in the Church to exercise these offices outside of the priesthood.
We need only recognize and utilize the gifts God has built into our nature to do great things in the world. We don’t need to be priests too.
Regarding the decision resting on the Pope, of course, this does not mean that well-intentioned people should not offer suggestions (especially women where it concerns them directly). I'm sure you agree with me here as well.
@ Kenneth Cassar first I'd like to thank you for accepting my apology. I would like to say to you, well said when you said let the Pope make that decision and anyone who disagrees has an option to leave the church.
@ another important note we have a Maltese priest who needs help in Peru.Read his letter GODPARENTS BY PROY NEEDD IN PERU.
Fr Borg maybe you can write about this on a future blog.
"But for anyone to say woman don't have a say in our church is an insult to all Catholics. They indeed do have a say and place in ou Church. "
Can you please give us examples of the say of women in important decisions and thier role in position of importance?
Regarding the "Catholic basher" thing, I think you are referring to the incident of the fallen statue of St George, where, like most other people, I found the incident funny seeing that no one was injured. But apart from that, I did not make any comments regarding statues, so probably you're mistaking me with someone else who might have taken the opportunity to attack the church.
Apology accepted.
Now regarding the soccer world cup, it is true that there is no woman in the male national teams, but, as you point out, all countries have female national teams. As far as I know, no woman is prohibited from playing soccer, so your example is self-defeating in that respect.
I also never said women don't have a say in the Catholic church. Of course they do. But of course, the final say is that of a man (we don't have women Popes yet).
Regarding arguing with me in the past about the church, I'm not sure about that, but it could be. We're all entitled to our opinions and have the right to express them. One thing I'm certainly not, though. I'm definitely not a Catholic basher. If you think otherwise, I would appreciate it if you quote where I have shown myself to be so.
As for apologies, there's no need for that.
I only know something, I feel so miserable sad watching the Pope...he never has a single woman by his side....in official functions...why what's wrong ?
The male counterpart of a nun would be a monk. The female counterpart of a male priest would be a female priest.
Brought up as a member of the Church of England I converted to Rome in my thirties feeling that the C of E was all things to all men and I admired the certainties offered by the Catholic Church.
My opinion is that in this day and age the Catholic Church is free to make its decisions on the place of women in the Church
by virtue of its Magisterium and if it decides on women priests and bishops then so be it.
We sincerely hope that the work we are doing will be the first step for more serious study and debate about the situation of the role and dignity of women, both in the Church and in society - issues that are becoming more relevant in our day and age.
Marselle Delicata - Chairperson - ad hoc committee Mulieris Dignitatem
To-date, we have tried to create awareness by highlighting valid points from Mulieris Dignitatem during a recent seminar for pastoral operators, as well as through the publication of various articles (one may access these from the official website of the DIocese), interviews on local TV and radio stations and talks in parishes. Hopefully, this may pave the way for more dialogue even within society. To aid this, a series of three evenings, worked in collaboration with the Institute of Pastoral Formation, are planned for the coming autumn.
On the religious side, the commemoration of the Apostolic Letter will take place on 12th August, when Mass will be celebrated by His Grace, Archbishop Paul Cremona, at St Mary's Parish Church, B'KAra, during which Mgr Cremona will deliver his message.
Typical of a misogynist culture and a clear example of people changing religion for the wrong reasons.
Well definetely women should know better on the subject and the more we hear from them the more we should progress on the matter.
So first of all thank you female theologians for being so- let us be enlightened by you more often!
I am convinced that had Christ come now, rather than 2000 years ago, probably eight out of the twelve apostles would be women. The fact that the original apostles were men reflects the culture of the time. It would have been unlikely, in those times, that women would have had the same freedom of operation and effectiveness in their work as men. Yet even then the New Testament is full of references to women disciples of Christ . Mary Magadalen is often referred to as the 'apostle of the apostles' in recognition of her having the honour of being the first to see the risen Christ and taking the news to them.
So for the time being, we will continue to have only male priests and we should respect the Church's decision, but I believe that it is only a matter of time before we have women priests, bishops, etc.