Essay on Role of Women in the Roman Catholic Church

Introduction

Society and culture has a profound effect on all of us. We live our entire lives immersed in
our society and culture. We eat, drink, breathe, and sleep our culture. When our culture
teaches something incorrect, and teaches it constantly and thoroughly, it is difficult for us to
even consider a different idea. When our culture teaches something incorrect, and we stumble
across the truth, the truth will seem foreign and awkward to us. The truth will not "feel right,"
whenever the truth contradicts the culture in which we are immersed. That is why many
Catholics have rejected certain teachings of the Church - because those teachings contradict
the teachings of the society and culture around us. Our society and culture teaches that men
and women should have much the same roles in their lives. Modern secular culture treats men
and women as if they were meant to be interchangeable parts in society. Men and women are
given nearly the same roles in our society today. There are even laws making it illegal to give
certain jobs only to men. Women have become political leaders, religious leaders, heads of
corporations and other organizations, even soldiers and law enforcement officers. Such is the
teaching of our culture. But it is not the teaching of Christ.

Women Role in the History of the Roman Catholic Church

In our mission statement we clearly uphold the following: The goal of the group "RC Womenpriests"
(Roman Catholic Womenpriests) is to bring about the full equality of women in the Roman Catholic
Church. At the same time we are striving for a new model of Priestly Ministry. The movement “RC
Womenpriests” does not perceive itself as a counter-current movement against the Roman Catholic
Church. It wants neither a schism nor a break from the Roman Catholic Church, but rather wants to
work positively within the Church.

Womenpriests are leading the Catholic Church into a new era in which the identity of priest reflects
the experiences of women, as representatives of the sacred. Women priests remind us that women are
equal symbols of the holy. Patriarchy's dark lie that women are more responsible for the fall of
humankind has been smashed as women in priestly ministry defy an unjust law that keeps women
subordinate in the Catholic Church. Reclaiming our ancient spiritual heritage, women priests are
shaping a more inclusive, Christ-centered church of equals in the twenty-first century.

The Vatican is a patriarchal/hierarchical structure. The structure itself must be renewed through
accountability and by creating a discipleship of equals. The present gap between clergy and laity
needs to be eliminated. As ordained women, we must find a way to call forth the gifts of each member
of the community. We All are church, not just some. We are offering a vision where all are welcome.
Women priests and deacons must be the rainbow, we reflect the people we serve: married, celibate,
domestic partners, heterosexual, homosexual, bisexual and transgendered.

Roman Catholic Women priests walk in solidarity with our women apostles, prophets, teachers,
virgins, widows, deacons, priests, abbesses, and bishops in the early church. We affirm the saintly
women and men in our Catholic tradition whose words and lives give testimony to the vision of Jesus.
They are our companions on the journey to a transformed Roman Catholic Church in which a
discipleship of equals is a reality in all areas of the church’s life.
In 1976, the Pontifical Biblical Commission concluded that there is no biblical reason to
prohibit women’s ordination. Women and men are created in God’s image and both may
represent Christ as priests. In the image of God, God created humankind, male and female
God created them. (Genesis 1:26-27) Jesus did not ordain anyone. Deacons, presbyters
(elders) and bishops are not mentioned in the Gospels. Jesus had male and female disciples,
who became apostles by being sent away (from Greek apo, away and stello, send) by being
told to “Go and tell.” Jesus chose the Samaritan woman to announce the good news to her
entire village. The Samaritans accepted Jesus as Messiah because of her testimony.

The Role of Women in the Catholic Church

Many women play active roles in the Catholic Church, but few of them have sanctioned
titles. Even becoming a nun doesn’t get you the boon of the sacrament of Holy Orders only
men can be ordained. The reason women can’t be priests goes to the establishment of the
sacrament of Holy Orders. Because Christ established the sacrament, no pope, council, or
bishop can change it. Eastern Orthodox Catholics don’t ordain women for the very same
reason. It has nothing to do with who’s more worthy or suitable for Holy Orders in the same
way that the ban on non-Catholics receiving Holy Communion has nothing to do with any
moral or spiritual judgment on the persons involved. It has to do with Sacred Tradition,
which is considered as divinely inspired as Sacred Scripture.

However, women can serve their parishes in a variety of other ways: Women have equal
rights to be sponsors at Baptism and Confirmation. In Matrimony, they’re treated and
regarded as full, equal partners with their husbands. Women can serve on the parish council
and finance committees. They can be readers at Mass, extraordinary ministers (laypersons
who assist the priest at Mass to give out Holy Communion, sometimes call Eucharistic
ministers) if needed, and ushers. They can work in the parish office; teach religious ed, and
so on, just like their male counterparts. And many parishes have women pastoral associates-
usually nuns or religious sisters who help the pastor with many spiritual and pastoral duties.
The Church has women who are canon lawyers, judges, and chancellors across the country.
The Church has allowed local bishops and pastors the option to permit female altar servers at
Mass. Now many parishes have both altar girls and altar boys.

Work of Mother Teresa

The range of volunteer work that’s available in India is so diverse that there’s something for
everyone. A popular option is working with underprivileged children, such as teaching
English and helping with their schooling.

There are two main ways of volunteering in India. These are independently, or though.
Volunteering independently, at an organization such as the Mother Teresa of Calcutta Centre,
is a much cheaper option but it won’t give you the support that’s offered by volunteer
placement companies. In addition to organizing your placement on a project, these companies
also provide training, orientation, accommodation, food and help with getting settled in your
new environment. It’s recommended that anyone traveling to India for the first time, or
volunteering in India for the first time, join a placement company. India can be a challenging
country for first-timers and it’s reassuring to know that assistance is readily available if need
be.

 Working on empowerment programs for underprivileged women.

 Working at an orphanage.
 Working with the sick, dying, or disabled.
 Working on environmental conservation programs.
 Working on rural development programs.
 Working on health programs.
 Coaching sports for children.
 Teaching tribal communities.

You'll find projects on offer everywhere in India, from the mountains to the cities.

Catholic nuns on a mission to protect the poor from Paul Ryan's budget plan

Nuns on bus tour to fight for the poor: slams Ryan's budget plan. Some Roman Catholic nuns
are on a mission to stop Mitt Romney's running mate Paul Ryan, saying the Wisconsin
congressman's proposed budget plan would devastate the poor.

Sister Simone Campbell

She has already put her plan in action. This summer, she reportedly organized a bus tour and
took “Nuns on the Bus”, across the country, covering an impressive nine states in just two
weeks in her aggressive fight to stop the Ryan plan dead in its tracks. Emblazoned in big,
bold letters on the side of that bus were the words, "Nuns drive for faith, family and fairness."
When the bus tour was in progress, Romney had not yet picked Ryan as his vice presidential
running mate. When asked if she had anticipated this pick, Sister Simone answered "Heavens
no," adding, "He is not from a swing state. I don't see what he brings to the ticket. He thinks
seniors are getting too big of a free ride. I don't understand it."According to The Daily Beast,
Sister Simone is escalating her protest by pushing to get other nuns across the country to
lobby their local legislators for policies which are more "poor-friendly" than Ryan's budget
plan, which she says punishes the poor while rewarding the rich even more.

The feisty nun, who is the executive director of a Catholic advocacy group called the
Network, even went up against Fox's head bully Bill O'Reilly this week and held her own.
Undaunted by his aggressive interviewing style, Sister Simone told him just what she thought
of Ryan's proposed budget: that is was anti-poor folks and pro-rich. She has always been a
voice for the poor and told O'Reilly in no uncertain terms what she wanted when he loudly
asked her to tell him what she really wanted. "What I want is money in the pockets of hard-
working people who are living below the poverty level."

As most interviews go with anyone who has an opposing ideological and political view to
O'Reilly's, the "mash-up" deteriorated into a shouting match but Sister Campbell wasn't
rattled for she called it "missionary work." She reportedly met with Ryan in July but
concluded that though they are both passionate about America, they differed deeply on
fundamental issues. Ryan's budget plan leans heavily on slashing social programs that help
primarily the poor and elderly while giving more tax cuts to the richest among us. Sister
Campbell says there is something extremely troubling about that and vows she will not stop
fighting to reverse this.

She has invited both Romney and Ryan to tour some of the poorest communities with her, but
so far they have not taken her up on her offer. Some Bishops have also taken up the fight for
society's most vulnerable, reportedly saying they Ryan's budget "doesn't pass the moral test."
High-profile Bishops Richard E. Pates and Stephen E. Blair of the Conference of Catholic
Bishops, have sent letters to Congress urging them to remember the poor need protection.

Conclusion

Women role remind us that women are equal symbols of the holy and therefore should
preside at the celebration of the sacraments. Like Rosa Parks, whose refusal to sit in the back
of the bus ignited the civil rights movement, Roman Catholic women are leading the Catholic
church into a new age of equality for women in the church. Like Jesus, inclusivity will be our
hallmark as we welcome all to God’s table of plenty at the Banquet of love. Inspired by our
ancient sisters who have gone before us as apostles, deacons, priests, bishops and leaders in
the church, we embrace our call to live Christ’s vision of Gospel equality in the 21st century.

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