Madam, - Anne Doherty (May 2nd) defends the Catholic Church against the charge of being anti-women with the argument that the (male) priesthood is essentially a spiritual role and not a "power cartel". Yet it is the Hierarchy of the Church - bishops, cardinals and the Pope - who decide everything. They decide what we may believe in relation to contraception, divorce, other faiths, etc. It was a gathering of bishops that decided on the far-reaching changes to the Church at Vatican II.
As far as I am aware, one cannot, in practice at least, attain a position in the Hierarchy without first becoming an ordained priest. And, of course, only males can be ordained. Therefore, it is difficult to see how the male priesthood is not a "power cartel".
Ms Doherty goes on to say that the role of women in the Church is different to that of men. But what exactly is the role of women? We are told ad nauseam that the priesthood is confined to men because Jesus was a man and chose only men as his apostles. If this is the template that the Church has used to develop and justify an exclusively male priesthood and Hierarchy, where is the equivalent template for the role of women in the Church?
The obvious role model is Mary Magdalen, who for centuries was branded by the Church as a prostitute. It was she, we are told in a number of gospels, who remained faithful to Jesus after his arrest when the apostles deserted him. It was she who had the privilege of being the first to meet Jesus after his resurrection. There is further evidence in the gospels that Mary Magdalen was part of Jesus's "inner circle" alongside his male followers. Then there is the intriguing passage in Luke that describes her and other women providing for Jesus and the apostles "out of their substance".
In 1969, the Catholic Church recanted its former teaching that Mary Magdalen was a prostitute. Then, in his 1995 letter to women, Pope John Paul II offered a somewhat guarded apology to women for the Church's part in their suppression throughout history. It is worth quoting in full what he said next:
"When it comes to setting women free from every kind of exploitation and domination, the Gospel contains an ever relevant message which goes back to the attitude of Jesus Christ himself [ emphasis in original]. Transcending the established norms of his own culture, Jesus treated women with openness, respect, acceptance and tenderness. In this way he honoured the dignity which women have always possessed according to God's plan and in his love. As we look to Christ at the end of this Second Millennium, it is natural to ask ourselves: how much of his message has been heard and acted upon?"
Perhaps the new Pope will take this ball and run with it. Is it possible that, theologian that he is, Pope Benedict will be inspired to use the evidence in the gospels to develop a new role for women in the Church, a role that is complementary, spiritual and authoritative?
If any of your readers are interested in the role of women in the Church, I commend a website that examines this and other serious issues in a constructive fashion: www.emptychurch.org - Yours, etc,
JIM BRUCE, Hazelwood, Shankill, Dublin 18