Christian Attitudes to the roles of Men and Women

The Traditional Protestant Attitude Men and women should have separate and different roles. It is the role of women to bring up children and run a Christian home. Why? This teaching is based on; The teachings of St Paul in Timothy about women not being allowed to teach or speak in church.

The modern Protestant Attitude Many Protestant Churches now accept that men and women are e ual and they have women ministers and priests. Why? This teaching is based on; The evidence from the !ospels that "esus treated women as e uals. #e preached in the court of women in the "erusalem Temple $Matthew %&'%()%%'&*+. #e had women disciples who stayed with him at the cross, unlike his male disciples who ran away $Matthew %-'..+.

Catholic Attitudes to the role of Men and Women The Catholic Church teaches that men and women should have e ual roles in life and society. /omen have the same rights as men in the Church and are able to study and teach in theological colleges. #owever, the Catholic Church teaches that only men can be priests. Why? This teaching is based on; The teaching of the Catholic Catechism that men and women are e ual, but only men can be priests. The fact that "esus was a man and the priest represents "esus at the Mass. 0ll of "esus1 disciples were men.