Pope Francis and Women in the Church/ Will the Pope Appoint Women to top Deicison-Making Jobs in the Vatican?

Pope Francis is saying positive words, but words must be followed by actions on behalf of justice. Pope Francis should appoint women to top decision-making jobs in the Vatican Curia.And he should reverse the harsh punishments against women priests and our supporters as   steps toward embracing women as partners and equals in the church. Bridget Mary Meehan, arcwp, www.arcwp.org,
sofiabmm@aol.com

 http://www.sunherald.com/2013/04/05/4574018/pope-francis-says-women-play-a.html

VATICAN CITY -- "Pope Francis on Wednesday said women play a "fundamental role" in the Catholic Church as those who are mostly responsible for passing on the faith from one generation to the next.
While the new pope stopped far short of calling for women's ordination or giving women more decision-making power in the church, his remarks nonetheless signaled an openness to women that's not often seen in the church hierarchy.
"In the church and in the journey of faith, women have had and still have a special role in opening doors to the Lord," the Argentine pontiff said during his weekly audience in St. Peter's Square.
On March 28, Francis surprised Catholics -- and drew the ire of traditionalists -- when he included two women in a foot-washing ceremony at a youth prison in Rome.
Critics say the rite is a re-enactment of Jesus' washing the feet of the 12 male apostles, and the inclusion of women might reopen the debate over the ordination of women to the priesthood.
As Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio, the future pope clearly stated his opposition to women priests. Still, advocates for women's rights in the church hope Francis will give women more leadership positions within the church.
"There are some lay people in the Vatican leadership," said Sister Christine Anderson, a British nun who trains women leaders in Catholic organizations throughout the world. "There is no reason why (women) couldn't be there too.
"Many women have more theology than some priests. So it's not that we are not trained. ... I think it's really that we just have not grown up yet as a church," she added.
Sister Chris Schenk, executive director of FutureChurch, a Cleveland-based group that advocates for a greater role for women in the church, said Francis has been "doing great" at the symbolic level since his election, but "the proof will be in what steps the Vatican takes to begin to incorporate women's voices and experience at all levels of Church ministry and decision-making."Bridget Mary's Response"Pope Francis is saying positive words, but words must be followed by actions on behalf of justice. Pope Francis should appoint women to top decision-making jobs in the Vatican Curia.And he should reverse the harsh punishments against women priests and our supporters as   steps toward embracing women as partners and equals in the church. Bridget Mary Meehan, arcwp, www.arcwp.org

Read more here: http://www.sunherald.com/2013/04/05/4574018/pope-francis-says-women-play-a.html#storylink=cpy