Open
up the priesthood
Danielle
Sawyer - Rythms for Womyn
This
week's topic is in reference to Pope John
Paul II, the Vatican and the Catholic Church.
Just this past weekend the pope was seen
in the Slavic countries speaking and giving
mass to thousands of anxious people. Yet
the pope is so ill stricken that, many times,
mass and sermons had to be stopped in order
to attend to his health. This is just one,
in my opinion, of the outdated rules that
the Catholic Church needs to address in
our ever-changing world. Technology today
can keep the average human being alive ten,
twenty, sometimes thirty years longer than
they would have lived without society's
advancement in medicine. It is hard enough
to watch a human being suffer but to place
additional, unnecessary strain on someone
who is obviously incapable of fulfilling
such demanding physical responsibilities
is ridiculous.
But
this is not my main beef -- right now --
with the Catholic Church. This same news
special coverage program on the pope stated
that in these Slavic countries men were
so awestruck by the pope's dedication and
commitment to their God that many became
inspired to join the priesthood so as to
dedicate their souls to their God/Jesus
as much as Pope John Paul II had shown them.
Watching the pope and his suffering, some
young men said, was similar to the suffering
of Jesus when he was persecuted which instilled
a more powerful impression on these prospective
priests. The news story then brought us
back to the United States and the problem
we have here with a lack of young men dedicating
their lives to the priesthood. Over 6,000
parishes are without priests and the number
is rising. Some Catholics have suggested
allowing priests to marry in hopes to increase
the interests of men to commit to the Catholic
Church. Other Catholics state that this
would be a disgrace to the Catholic Church
to compromise the commitment to their God/Jesus
in order to attract more prospects.
Hmmmmmm,
I have a suggestion. Why not open the priesthood
up to women? I honestly do not think that
there would be a shortage nor do I believe
the Catholic Church would have to shame
themselves in breaking their promise of
celibacy to their Lord if women were invited
to "apply." Women, at least according
to Freud -- you know the philosopher in
which society bases its entire gender existence
-- says that women, unlike their male counterparts,
are less likely to stray away from their
loving commitment due to our "nature/nurture"
biological connection. Oh, but I forgot.
Women are, according to the Catholic Church,
the root of all evil, the sole basis of
our banishment from Paradise and the blame
for our "original sin," temptress
to all men, yet also the mother of Jesus
Christ. Wait, I'm so confused. Maybe instead
of compromising their commitment to God,
their Father by allowing priests to have
wives, the Catholic Church can give celibate
women a chance to prove once and for all
that we are worthy.
Danielle
Sawyer is women's studies major and a student
at Cal State Long Beach.
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