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Tuesday, April 2, 2019

Pope Francis Says Church Should Support Women's Rights, I Agree. Full Equality Includes Women Priests in an Inclusive Community of Equals

My Response: While Pope Francis affirms that the Church should support women's rights, he does not understand that a Church that supports women's rights must support women's equality in every area including women priests in a community of faith that is inclusive. Yes, I agree that the Church should admit its long history of abuse of women, and take action now to change it. I recommend the following as a good beginning:  adopt the insights of  contemporary feminist theology, experiment with new structures of accountability that return decision making to the people of God and explore inclusive, egalitarian ministry models that Catholics in grassroots communities  are using and that are working. Women priests have been living a renewed model of priestly ministry since 2002. Perhaps, it is time for Francis to have a friendly chat!
One thing I am sure of the time for foot dragging by the old boys club in the Vatican is over if the Church wants to be relevant for the next generation. 
Bridget Mary Meehan ARCWP, https://arcwp.org 


Pope Francis at the Vatican last week. (Andrew Medichini/AP)

https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/europe/pope-francis-says-church-should-support-womens-rights/2019/04/02/fa7af648-551f-11e9-814f-e2f46684196e_story.html?utm_term=.07442ceb24af

"Francis’s latest document said the church should look back on its history and “acknowledge a fair share of male authoritarianism, domination, various forms of enslavement, abuse and sexist violence.” But the document was not as drastic as it could have been, as Francis — in a seeming reference to the call for female priests — said the church could support women’s rights “while not agreeing with everything some feminist groups propose.”

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