Very interesting article on Busted Halo by Jesuit Scholastic James Keane on the Vagina Monologues (and the accompanying protests) at Catholic Universities. Worth the read (if only for this Jesuit’s desire to wear a pink t-shirt that says "This is what feminism looks like").
Also worth a read for this gem:
"But is this not exactly the message we want to send to young Catholics? That the gospel is empowering to women, that their voices are heard in the Church, that the Church is better off if they express themselves and cherish their womanhood?"
Yes, this IS the message we should be sending to young Catholics … and middle aged Catholics … and older Catholics … and male Catholics … and female Catholics. Unfortunately, it’s not the message that is often sent. As I read the Gospels, I see in Jesus someone who made an effort to reach out to women, to empower women, to make their voices heard.
And yet, as a young woman I ran as far away as I could from the church precisely because this was not the message I received. Instead I felt alienated, undervalued, oppressed and not quite made in the image of God, despite what the book of Genesis says (male AND female God created us – both in his image – and God found us to be good!!).
Thank God (literally) I found my way back. I need the Church, but the Church needs me. And you. And you. And you. And you.
3 comments:
Amen, sister!
That was a good, if chilling, article. The anti-feminist backlash is really quite frightening and effective at silencing women. That Promise-Keepers stuff is particularly scary. Just what we need, more patriarchy!
Personally I'd be scared to wear a "This is what a feminist looks like" shirt to church, or anywhere for that matter. Yes, I'm chicken! I suppose I should do it out of solidarity with all oppressed groups, some of whom can't escape identifcation. Hmmm...
P.S. I sent an e-mail to Busted Halo thanking them for publishing that article. Thanks to you for blogging on it! :-)
It was funny in that article to read one Jesuit (Keane) complaining about the conservatism of another Jesuit (Fessio).
I don't think we men have anything to lose by embracing feminism, except our own insecurities and hangups.
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