When the Vatican issued what was expected to be an update on its laws related to sexual abuse last week, many were outraged and surprised to see the attempted ordination of women priests listed as a “grave crime.” The outrage was caused by the Vatican linking the two. After all, the molestation of children by priests is a major problem for the church requiring a massive overhaul to its practices and policies. The ordination of women priests should pale by comparison. The surprise, for some, was what they felt was an act of blatant misogyny from the church.
The outrage I can understand. The surprise, not really. The Catholic Church has never tried to hide its patriarchal ways. The church I knew as a child is only slightly different than the church I know now. Today women are allowed to serve as Eucharistic ministers, but other than that, they hold the same roles and staus they did then.
Archbishop Donald W. Wuerl of Washington, in his weak attempt to address the inclusion of ordaining women in the Vatican’s response to widespread sex abuse, said, “The church’s gratitude toward women cannot be stated strongly enough.
“Women offer unique insight, creative abilities and unstinting generosity at the very heart of the Catholic Church.”
But actions speak louder than words. Last fall the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops lobbied Washington to restrict a woman’s right to full reproductive health options and almost hijacked health care reform as a result. This year the church excommunicated a nun who allowed an abortion to take place at a Catholic hospital in an effort to save a mother’ life. Currently the Vatican is conducting two investigations of U.S. nuns, an “Apostolic Visitation” investigating the “quality of life” of women’s religious institutions and a “doctrinal assessment” of the Leadership Conference of Women Religious, a group that has been outspoken about ordaining women.
Doctrine is doctrine and we need not be surprised when the church stays true to it. We should be motivated. Like watching a bad marriage, it is painful to see one party devalue another, while the second party remains devoted. But imagine if the women left? The church would certainly miss their “unique insight, creative abilities and unstinting generosity.” Better yet, imagine a new institution that combines those qualities with women’s leadership skills, critical thinking, compassion and authority. It could happen. But it would take a new wave of Suffragette Sisters (with or without habits) to lead the way.
