Gender equality

Does the Church promote gender equality? Examine what the Bible says about the
role of men and women and why women aren't allowed to be priests.
The Catholic Church teaches that all of humanity is equal, as all of humanity was
created in the image and likeness of God. No one sex or race is above or superior
to another.

The Catechism of the Catholic Church states clearly that men and women were
made equal in the eyes of God, and that men and women "complement" one
another. To be equal does not necessarily mean the same. To be equal means to
have the same rights and nature as others.

"Man and woman were made "for each other" - not that God left them half-made
and incomplete: he created them to be a communion of persons, in which each can
be "helpmate" to the other, for they are equal as persons ("bone of my bones. . .")
and complementary as masculine and feminine.

The Catechism of the Catholic Church clearly sets out its stance on
discrimination:

Every form of social or cultural discrimination in fundamental personal rights on

the grounds of sex, race, colour, social conditions, language, or religion must be
curbed and eradicated as incompatible with God's design.

The Church does not agree with any form of discrimination including gender
discrimination. Men and women are equals and both are children of God.
Jesus and early Christians lived in a male-dominated society and the Bible
reflects this. The belief that men and women should have different roles is still
common in some Christian communities today. This is because they believe that
God made men and women differently.

Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the
wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Saviour. Now
as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in
everything.
St Paul's letter to the Ephesians 5:21-22
In 1 Timothy 2:11-12 it states, Women should learn in silence and all humility. I
do not allow them to teach or to have authority over men; they must keep quiet.
This passage seems to limit the role of women as subordinates to men. However
the context and the theological meaning can be considered here.

During the time of writing, it would have been unheard of for a woman to speak
out and try to educate a man. In addition, the statement could link to the authority
of the Church, which is one that remains today – that no woman shall be part of the
authority of the Church.

Other Christians believe that men and women were both made in the image of God
and should be treated equally – they should share responsibilities and privileges.

There is neither Jew nor Gentile, slave nor free, male nor female for you are all one
in Christ Jesus.
St Paul's letter to the Galatians 3:28
Many Catholics believe husbands and wives should respect each other's roles
within a marriage and value both equally. These roles include those of care within
the home, and that of earning money to provide for the family.

Men should truly esteem and love women with total respect for their personal
dignity, and society should create and develop conditions favouring work in the
home
Roles of men and women in the Church
Within the Catholic Church, in the lay ministries and religious orders there is no
difference between male and female.

In the laity both sexes are able to help dispense the Eucharist and take on other
roles such as catechesis in the Church.
Both men and women are able to join religious orders and dedicate themselves to
God by becoming a monk or a nun.
Priesthood
The only area where women are not allowed is the priesthood. In the Catholic
Church only men can be ordained and become priests and bishops. In this position
they have to remain celibate, so that they are free to dedicate their life to God and
to the Church. Some people claim that the Catholic Church contradicts its own
teachings by not allowing women to become priests.
In its defence, the Church answers that a priest stands in the place of Jesus who
was a man, and points to the tradition of male priests for over two thousand years.

likeness of: giống cái gì

superior to another: vượt trội(cao cấp) hơn
To be equal : được công bằng
sets out its stance : đặt ra lập trường
be curbed: bị kiềm chế
be eradicate: bị tiêu diệt, loại bỏ
a male-dominated society: xã hội nam quyền
have authority over(sbd,sth): có quyền đối với
subordinates to: là cấp dưới của
be considered: được xem xét
have been unheard: chưa từng nghe
link to: liên kết với
be treated equally: được đối xử công bằng
privileges: đặc quyền
truly esteem: thực sự quý trọng
personal dignity: phẩn chất cá nhân
take on: đảm nhận
be ordained : được phong chức
to remain celibate: duy trì cuộc sống độc thân