On Thursday, the Vatican issued new rules and made the “attempted ordination” of women one of the gravest crimes under church law, lumping it in the same category with — wait for it — the clerical sex abuse of minors. Women attempting to be priests and those who ordain them already risk automatic excommunication, but the decree goes further and labels the action “a crime against sacraments.”
My favorite feminist is Mary Daly. Forced to study theology in europe because no american catholic university would admit her to a doctoral program she exposed the male dominance of the church. She helped women to see that the church did not represent them or care about them. Women were useful only as long as they reproduced faithful offspring brought up to be loyal to the church. Under such a system, birth control and sterilization are strictly forbidden as not having children would free women up to the pursuit of education, commerce and self expression. Mary, the mother of Jesus is worshipped for her obedience to God to be willing to have a child for God. Mary is also worshipped for her virginity. This is a big guilt trip for a modern woman to uphold. Mary is by and large a silent participant and no doubt God and the priesthood above all else admire obedient silence from the women that they wish to dominate and control. The protestant movement also excludes women and prefers obedient silent women as well. Do all these men really speak for God? Does God see women as inferior and incapable of leading congregations and worshippers? I think women have been "had" for thousands and thousands of years by male dominated societies and religions. Christianity has not furthered the cause of women. Christianity has hindered it.
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