Benedict election as Pope seen as "coup, by an all-male, patriarchal, clerical church"

SF Latin Mass ^ | April,2005 | sf latin mass

[Cato1]

I think it is generally unfair to characterize opposing viewpoints by their most extreme adherents or the most absurd end of their spectrum. Therefore, the following should be read in jest, even though the authors are quite serious.

This is from the "Open Conclave" movement of feminists called Woman Church Convergence

"

Press Release of Women-Church Convergence April 19, 2005

Women-Church Announces Cyberspace Forum on Women’s Equality; Challenges Pope Benedict XVI to Join the Discussion

Contact: Bridget Mary Meehan 703-671-1972 703-283-2929 sofiabmm@aol.com Mary E. Hunt 301-589-2509 240-472-4587 mhunt@hers.com

Women-Church Convergence announces a cyberspace forum for a global conversation on issues, reforms and actions needed to shape the Catholic Church into a “discipleship of equals” in the twenty-first century www.women-churchconvergence.org.

Women-Church co-coordinator Bridget Mary Meehan asserted, “We are providing a forum for feminist voices around the world to join together in the work for Gospel equality and justice in our church and world. Women-Church Convergence invites Pope Benedict XVI to join in this dialogue.” Spurred by the success of the Women-Church on-line “Open Conclave” that facilitated the exchange of opinions among thousands of people while the cardinals sat in a locked room, feminist theologian Mary E. Hunt noted, “The Convergence sees this next step as modeling a new, 21st century way to be church where all are welcome.”

Women-Church Convergence is alarmed at the election of Pope Benedict XVI. We believe that the Spirit of God acts through the people of God and this selection reflects a reactionary-right-wing succession plan, perhaps a coup, by an all-male, patriarchal, clerical church.

As prefect of the Sacred Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger released a letter on July 31, 2004, condemning feminism. As the enforcer of orthodoxy, he forbade the discussion of women-priests. We reject both the substance and the process of such teaching and assure concerned people of good will that such authoritarianism has no place in the Catholic community.

Women-Church Convergence calls on Pope Benedict XVI to distance himself from his former role as the arbiter of doctrine and to take on the mantle of a pastoral listener. Women-Church invites the new pope, whose role is to be a symbol of unity, to join in the dialogue and actions to bring about equality and partnership for women in all aspects of church life, including ordination to a renewed priestly ministry. Instead of condemning feminism, we expect Pope Benedict XVI to affirm the important values that Catholic feminists bring to the table and to recognize our leadership. A first step would be to invite Catholic feminists to fill fifty percent of the leadership roles in all Catholic institutions, beginning with the Curia.

Women-Church Convergence is a coalition of autonomous Catholic-rooted organizations/groups working for the empowerment of women in church and society.

[WriteOn]

Amen

[WriteOn]

Not at the church I attend (Latin Novus Ordo). Nor at many TLMs.

[Romish_Papist]

What's great about this is they honestly believe there is some kind of idiotic feminist revolution going on in the church. They seriously believe they are effecting change. LOL! That's like me sitting in my home saying I secede from the United States and telling no one. Not actually doing anything. Morons. Let them wallow in their pride and foolishness. They, like all of us, will answer to Him at the end of days.

[Jaysun]

That's a Poundian turn of phrase.

You're on the money. From "Sestina: Altaforte", one of my favorites:

The man who fears war and squats opposing
My words for stour, hath no blood of crimson
But is fit only to rot in womanish peace
Far from where worth's won and the swords clash
For the death of such sluts I go rejoicing;
Yea, I fill all the air with my music.

[wideawake]

"Cosi s'osserva in me lo contrapasso."

[AlbionGirl]

Do you think that's representative of the Church at large? I don't, at least from what I've seen. Men have abdicated. They've abdicated in society too.

This isn't men bashing, it really isn't. I hope that they take back their rightful place at the helm.

Women who think they're smarter than men are out of their minds. The feminists jumped ugly, and the men said 'ok, we'll do it your way.' And to quote a country song, they got the gold mine, the feminists got the shaft.

The awe and beauty of the masculine was on display on and after 9/11. We need a lot more of that type of courage and strength, and not just when tragedy strikes. In the laity, we need men to take a serious lead. I'm not sure it's reclaimable at this point. Time will tell.

[starfish923]

Our parish has as many men as women. No problem like that here.

But I know what you mean. Too many mized marriages and broken homes.

[WriteOn]

Men find repulsive, as a general rule, the hand-holding kumbaya and homilists who preach love, love, love. Find a real church and you'll find real men. A poofter in the pulpit and no real men. We believe in struggling for God.

Kumbaya-loving men are ball-less, following their wives to church.

JMHO.

[AlbionGirl]

I find it repulsive too, and the eunuch (sp?) quality you're referring to? That's exactly my point! I think we're basically in agreement, and on that note I'll say one last thing:

I think it's now starting to take on physical characteristics, becoming part of their DNA. What characteristics? Wide hips and plump pecs!

BTW, perhaps you've already read it, but a great little book on the subject of masculine Christianity is Man, The Saint, by Fr. J. Urteaga Loidi.