Writing in the National Catholic Reporter, Maureen Fiedler wonders when her church will have women in the priesthood:
“She” is the Rev. Ana Langerak, who was ordained a priest 25 years ago in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America but who now serves St. Matthew/San Mateo Episcopal Church in Hyattsville, Md. (ELCA is in communion with the Episcopal church, and they share clergy.)
I just returned from the liturgy and luncheon that celebrated Ana’s quarter-century of priestly service, much of which was in Central America and some at the World Council of Churches in Geneva. As a Roman Catholic, it is truly heartening to see a parish accept Ana fully — indeed, with great love and appreciation — as she celebrated her 25 years of priesthood.
I hope, of course, that this scene can be repeated in the Catholic church in not too many years. But we have a lot of catching up to do. This was, after all, not an ordination; it was the silver jubilee of an ordination!
On Wednesday Pope Francis addressed women and equity, the NCR reports:
Reflecting during his weekly general audience on the “radical equality” he said Christianity proposes between husbands and wives, Francis said Christians around the world “must become more demanding” in emphasizing that equality. “For example: supporting with conviction the right of equal compensation for equal work,” he said.
“Why is it expected that women must earn less than men?” he asked. “No! They have the same rights. The disparity is a pure scandal.”
…
Addressing several possible reasons for lower numbers of those who choose to marry, the pope also made clear that he does not think the decline is due to recent movements for women’s rights or women’s emancipation. “Many consider that the change occurring in these last decades may have been set in motion by women’s emancipation,” Francis said, calling that “an insult! No, it is not true!” Continuing, the pope said blaming the problem on efforts for women’s rights “is a form of chauvinism that always wants to control the woman.”
Posted by John B. Chilton