By Virginia Saldanha
Mumbai, Dec 3, 2022: Recently the Jesuit run “America Magazine” interviewed Pope Francis on various topical issues, among them was the question regarding what he would say to women who are already serving in the Church, but who also feel strongly the call to be a priest in the Catholic Church.
Pope Francis reinforces the gender binary by pointing to the Petrine principle which means Jesus chose Peter as head of the Church and 12 male apostles because Jesus our high priest was male. Pope Francis suggests that women have no place in the Petrine principle. On the other hand, the Marian principle is a mirror of the Church as woman and as the spouse of Christ. So, he suggests that women have to be content with being the mirror image of the Church which represents the feminine spouse of Christ – what a convoluted explanation to convey to women that we are an important part of the Catholic Church dominated by men.
As a woman I do not know whether to laugh or cry at Pope Francis’ suggestion about women’s position in the Church. How can an institution that is ruled solely by men be ‘woman’? How can such an institution be the ‘spouse’ of Christ?
I wonder if perhaps this theological idea of the Church as woman and as the spouse of Christ and the male priests as representing Christ could be the root of the sexual abuse of women by clergy?
Pope Francis suggests that women’s place in the Church is a theological problem which needs to sorted out by coming up with a theology on women. When Pope Francis says, ”We need to come up with a theology on women”, does he mean the male leaders come up with a theology of women? I would like to remind Pope Francis that there are numerous articulate and excellent women theologians who have already been speaking of women’s position in the Church.
Pope Francis’ reiteration of the Petrine and Marian principles are an indication that he as the leader of the Church has not bothered to read the writings of feminist theologians of the past 50 years. Feminist scripture scholars have pointed out that Jesus never ever ordained any priests. The last supper had both men and women present when he said “Do this in memory of me.” Women disciples in scriptures were Jesus most faithful followers. He even chose a woman to carry the good news of his resurrection to the world. Would Jesus not want women leaders in the Church?
The third explanation that the Pope gives is what he describes as the ‘administrative’ one. He points out that In the Church there is the Ministerial and Ecclesial role which is reserved for men. Then there is the administrative role which has so far been dominated by men, but Pope Francis has recently begun opening it up for women’s participation. He concedes, “we have to give more space to women.”
While women appreciate the steps Pope Francis has taken to bring reform in the Church and the Roman Curia, his response on women’s ordination has disturbed a lot of progressive thinking women and men, especially when he calls it a theological problem. It is pertinent to note that the theology that Pope Francis has quoted has been articulated by men from a male perspective. Women entered the field of theology only after the Second Vatican Council. Since then women have been studying scriptures and interpreting it through a woman’s lens which has brought in new and fresh perspectives that men could never see. But somehow the Church has not recognized these perspectives nor listened to what women have to say. Women’s voices keep getting dismissed based on a theology that has not been updated to include women’s thinking about God and how God speaks to women in the context of their lives.
The reason why women need a place at the ‘table’, is because it is only through ordained ministry that one gets to make decisions that affects all in the Church. Women’s voice has been missing at the decision-making table in the Church. The forthcoming Synod on Synodality is about listening to the voices of all. Women in the Church have been the most enthusiastic participants in synodal discussions at the grassroots, but their voice has not been heard, because the male leaders in the Church get to choose whose voice gets heard.
No one can deny that women are the most active participants at the parish and pastoral level of Church. Yet women continue to be kept down like the proverbial ‘slaves’ in the Church. Yet what women all over the world are asking for is active ministerial roles, but they are being dumbed down by theological mansplaining.
Pope Francis has asked that all join the listening sessions, somehow the bishops chose only those who they feel comfortable with while others are just never listened to. Can Pope Francis find a way to listen to voices from groups that have remained on the peripheries? If the Pope is really serious about fostering a culture of ‘encounter’ and ‘listening’ in the Church, he will call together women, not only religious but lay women as well and listen to them. Today modern means of communications can easily facilitate this. May Spirit Sophia continue to work and inspire the Church towards wholeness.
(Virginia Saldanha is a Mumbai-based feminist theologian who has headed the women departments under the Asian and Indian Churches.)
I observe that Ms Saldanha mentions what is clearly visible to all of us – women queuing up to do parish work. Why do they do it?
And, what is this “brides of Christ” concept being bandied about? It’s a big hoax. Why does Jesus need a spouse?? Perhaps, it is the use of this word (bride) that has emboldened many a Bishop and a Priest to regard vulnerable women as their temporary spouses!
Churches were made after Jesus. Before Jesus Synagogues 🕍. Used to run by male .
In the Beginning we find ELIO ; NOHA ; ABRAHAM ; MOSES all were male . It was all God Master Plan according to God’s Creation Technology…
Male & Female Technology. Male is Created a bit Stubborn Texture than Female a Delicate One ,for the Purpose.
But again God is of two Natured as Himself/Herself. Performing both. Apart from human being this SYSTEM is prevailing in all natural Beings. Birds ; Beasts ; Plants ; Flowers Insects. No One is Overpowering No One . Both are Strong in their Own Special Capabilities. God is admixture of both Symptoms. Sometime Female Sometime Male. Be like Mother Teresa a Strong & Soft . I find Mother Teresa Holier than Other Clergy, Bishops,Cardinals, Popes and Priests.
Are we not suffering from Superiority-Inferiority Complexity ?!! !
Be like St.Teresa of Avila ; St. Faustina ; St. Maria Goretti ; St. Anne ; Be a symbol of God-JESUS That’s superior signature .
Alexis Badal Gomes
07.11.2022
Kolkata
In response to Canute Barboza’s observations, it would be one’e worth to read line for line Section 54 of Amoris Laetitia:
“In this brief overview, I would like to stress the fact that, even though significant advances have been made in the recognition of women’s rights and their participation in public life, in some countries much remains to be done to promote these rights. Unacceptable customs still need to be eliminated. I think particularly of the shameful ill-treatment to which women are sometimes subjected, domestic violence and various forms of enslavement which, rather than a show of masculine power, are craven acts of cowardice. The verbal, physical, and sexual violence that women endure in some marriages contradicts the very nature of the conjugal union. I think of the reprehensible genital mutilation of women practiced in some cultures, but also of their lack of equal access to dignified work and roles of decision-making. History is burdened by the excesses of patriarchal cultures that considered women inferior, yet in our own day, we cannot overlook the use of surrogate mothers and “the exploitation and commercialization of the female body in the current media culture”. There are those who believe that many of today’s problems have arisen because of feminine emancipation. This argument, however, is not valid, “it is false, untrue, a form of male chauvinism”. The equal dignity of men and women makes us rejoice to see old forms of discrimination disappear, and within families there is a growing reciprocity. If certain forms of feminism have arisen which we must consider inadequate, we must nonetheless see in the women’s movement the working of the Spirit for a clearer recognition of the dignity and rights of women.”
The clinching phrase is: “History is burdened by the excesses of patriarchal cultures that considered women inferior.”
Thank You Virginia for your comments: 1.Seeking a PLACE AT THE TABLE for a MINISTERIAL & ECCLESIAL role in the Church, 2. Women being treated by clerics as SLAVES in the Church & 3. Would Jesus not want women followers in the Church? If Jesus really wanted to PLACE AT THE TABLE, a WOMAN for a MINISTERIAL & ECCLESIAL role in the Church, the best qualified would have been his mother. I really wonder if Peter maltreated Mary & the other women? -ranjit yawu
The Pope’s observation “we have to give more space to women” is warped in itself. Why should women beg the pope for their rightful and equal “space?” Petrine principle is a lame justification of the Pope(s) for male domination in the church hierarchy. Neither did Christ make Peter the Pope nor did he institute priesthood. He also did not preach Christianity which is man-made. All said and done, why are women taking all the opportunistic church prescriptions lying down? To begin with they should stop bowing and kissing the rings of bishops and cardinals. Women’s Commissions including various women’s cells are also to blame for perpetuating the Petrine principle. They should reject all these warped philosophies/justifications of women being “brides” of Christ (which in simple terms means second class citizens). In this case I recall a senior nun in Kolkata who said one cannot question a parish priest’s decisions for he is a king! Iran’s anti-hijab demonstration is a living example of women’s successful movement for their rights.
Going back to the Bible “But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvellous light.” (1 Peter 2:9). Nowhere did Christ say “You MEN are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, his own special people!”
I fully agree with Virginia’s presentation. God has no partiality. Men and women are equally children of God. Social and religious discriminations are created by human limited cultures. We should rectify historical and human made mistakes.
My personal coments:
1) The reality is that Pope Francis is a “prisoner” and his freedom in decision-making is limited to a great extent within the Vatican.
2) During his tenure he WILL NOT permit women priesthood.
3) Women are slaves in the Catholic Church “as it was in the beginning, now and ever shall be”.
4) A progressive Catholic women’s group in the US have women priests and they do celebrate the Eucharist. The group “does not bother about the recognition from Rome”.
5) So, sister Virginia, why do you lament on women’s role and women priesthood in the Catholic Church? Get a few like-minded women, ordain yourselves and start celebrating Eucharist in your groups. Rome will never-ever recognise you. But…you need to have the courage to go ahead. Jesus of Nazareth, who had many women companions to carry out his mission, will be very happy.
A few years ago I had written an article in the Indian Currents on “Bigger role for women in the church”. The CSI and other Christian groups have women priests and bishops? They have the courage to follow Jesus. But the “male dominated” Catholic Church only worships Jesus but “does not follow Jesus.” This is the bitter truth.
I fully endorse Virginia’s views. There is no reason, theological or any other logical for excluding women and married persons from the ministerial priesthood. Perhaps Pope Francis is soft pedaling the issue because he is already facing so much opposition from the deeply entrenched conservatives in the Church.
If Pope Francis speaks and announces, the truth of Jesus Christ as regards women priesthood, then, he may have a fear that, he will be declared a heretic, and hence lose his existing position as the Pope, the supreme pontiff of the Roman Catholic Church. It is evident that Pope loses his position and office, when he is formally and officially declared a heretic.
Pope Francis has already faced stiff opposition including the possibility of fraternal or formal correction from within the college of Cardinals including the apostolic curia, specifically because of Amoris Laeticia, section 52 and 53.
Therefore Pope Francis may be thinking of safeguarding his present position as the supreme pontiff, by defending male priesthood and patriarchy, instead of boldly proclaiming the truth as Jesus Christ did and gracefully prepare for the crucifixion.