In a report on the state of the Roman Catholic Church in Africa, men who have affairs and father children return to active ministry while nuns are thrown out of their orders. This is yet another example of the institutional Roman Catholic church's double standard, and hostility toward women. Priests receive a slap on the wrist and nuns are shown the door. Sounds like patriarchy's centuries old deeply-embedded hatred of women continues to reign in the Roman Catholic church . Shame on the hierarchy for unjust treatment of women! Jesus who called women and men to be disciples and partners, equals in proclaiming the good news of the Gospel, would be angry at such despicable treatment of women in our contemporary church. Like Jesus who cleansed the Temple and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, we, the community of believers, are called to rid the church of outdated clerical structures that foster sexism. Pope Benedict could begin by asking forgiveness from women who have been treated so shabbily by church leaders, and follow it up with a sincere repentance that restores Jesus' vision and the church's ancient tradition of partnership and equality for women, including ordination to a renewed priestly ministry.
The good news is that Roman Catholic Womenpriests is now a reality. We are following the example of Mary, Magdalene, Phoebe, Junia and the twelve hundred year tradition of women priests in the church. The people are calling forth women to serve in a renewed priestly ministry. Find our more about this vibrant new movement that is renewing the Catholic Church in grassroots communities in our book "Women Find a Way" and by visiting our website;
Bridget Mary Meehan
Roman Catholic Womenpriest
EXCERPT: "Priests having affairs is rampant in the church" in South Africa, said Velesiwe Mkwanazi, a former Catholic lay leader who co-founded Women Ordination South Africa and says she knows two priests with children."Parishioners blame women, say we seduce the priests, but we are brought up to respect and honor men, and women can't say no to a priest who is held up to us as a fount of knowledge in daily communication with God," she said.Co-founder Dina Cormick said priests who are caught having affairs are sent on retreats or moved to other parishes while nuns caught in sexual liaisons with priests are forced to leave their orders.
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