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| Annie Watson with daughter Megan |
Dear Editor,
I feel I must respond
to Douglas O. Chappell’s letter to the editor concerning Sunday’s article about
the “rebellious nun.” He is right in that there are parts of the article that
were “misleading and misinformed.” However, the general message of the article
is correct. Annie Cass Watson, formerly of
Danville, is part of a women priest movement for reasons that speak directly to
the church’s misogyny. The church (Catholic and conservative Protestant sects)
has practiced misogyny in many ways, including the exclusion of women from the
clergy and the church’s teachings against modern forms of birth control. Theologically,
the emphasis on Mary’s perpetual virginity contributes to the harmful notion
that women’s sexuality is inherently evil, thus further relegating women to
second class status.
Many male clergy in
the church agree that the church’s doctrines that negatively impact women
should change. The women in the movement realize that their ordinations lead to
their excommunication, putting them in the same category as the mafia and
others who commit egregious crimes. Those who cannot see the injustice of
lumping women who peacefully seek much needed reform with hardened criminals
have allowed a substance thicker than concrete to cover up their consciences
and annihilate their rational abilities.
I hardly see how
Chappell’s claim that “the church does more to promote the dignity of women
globally than any other organization” can contain much validity at all. Tell
that to women who are told they cannot serve as priests because they lack a
male member.
I have no issue with
Chappell’s assertion that celibacy and pedophilia are unrelated. He states that
the “number” (and he surely means “percentage”) of pedophile priests is lower
than the overall male population. I hope that’s true, but I hardly think that’s
reason for celebration. The issue, which had no business in an article about
women priests, is not about how many priests
have molested children. The issue is that the church tried to cover it up and
made a big mess.
Dr. Jimmy Watson
(Annie Watson’s husband)
Pastor of St. John
United Church of Christ (Cumberland) Indianapolis, Indiana
7810 Clearview Circle
Indianapolis, IN
46236
502-592-7544
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