Women respond to O'Malley

The co-directors of Women's Ordination Conference have written a powerfully worded response to Bishop O'Malley's claim in a recent interview that Jesus intended the Church to discriminate against women in leadership.

"Cardinal Sean, please stop making Jesus your partner in gender discrimination. As Catholics, we believe “every type of discrimination … based on sex … is to be overcome and eradicated as contrary to God’s intent” (Vatican II, Gaudium et Spes, #29). By perpetuating a system that excludes women from sacramental ministry, and denies women their baptismal equality, the Catholic Church implicitly gives permission to the rest of the world to oppress and dominate women."

They explain clearly and directly that there is no biblical basis for the discrimination against women perpetuated by our Church. In another piece in the same publication today, Bishop O'Malley tried "clarify" his remarks:

"Throughout history, many wonderful Catholic women have wished to be priests, among them St. Therese, the Little Flower. In my comments I was trying to communicate that women are often holier, smarter and more hard-working than men, and that the most important member of the Church is a woman, the Blessed Virgin Mary. The Church is called to be faithful to Christ’s will, and that is not always easy or popular."

Kate and Erin's letter clearly explains why such an explanation is lacking:

"As you mentioned in your interview, women do have important roles within the Church: the majority of lay ministers and church administrators are women," they write. "However, until the vocations of women are not just valued in our Church, but recognized and empowered at every level, as equals to men, the hierarchy will remain of place of painful discrimination."

"Comparing your letter to O'Malley's… This is like comparing Mount Saint Helens to a birthday candle," said Tom after reading the two pieces. "It is very inspirational. Thanks for writing it."

We're proud to be working with women like Kate and Erin for the equality of all in our Church!