In the last two years, I have done a lot of personal reading, writing & questioning on the subject of women's ordination & the Roman Catholic Ban on such, and worse, that loyal RC's have been told by our Holy Father to drop the subject of 'OW' entirely. This is a deeply disturbing ban to me -- I am a spiritual woman, I am Catholic & I -WANT- to talk about it! John Wijngaards has summarized in one neat package, with detailed references, both theological & personal, why and how women's roles in the dear RC have been limited and lost. That they need to be rediscovered, reclaimed & refreshed -- not to mention enriched & enhanced -- is no mean journey for the world's community of Catholics to embark upon. It's all here -- from the early deaconesses to the late (and very great) Therese of Lisieux. Church history has come to claim as its own the cuckoo's egg of ancient Roman Law that in its heyday also denigrated women. Either women are the spiritual equals of men or they are not; either there is no male and female in G_d or there is; either we are all called to a royal priesthood, or we are all sadly misinterpreting the great love of Jesus the Christ. The flaws in all the supposed theological arguments are carefully laid out & dissected & laid to rest herein. The RC Church cannot have it both ways.
This book is simple, eminently readable, and profoundly moving. I wrote to Hans tonight and told him I would read a few pages, then cry, read a few more, and cry more -- if the book was any longer, I don't know how I would survive it. It is not strident, but clear & respectful & authoritative, with lots of sources & resources. If you are beginning a search on this topic, or on a long personal journey of understanding how G_d is calling you, THIS is a good book. If you are already of a mind that reform in the RC priesthood is good & necessary, here are all the talking points in one straightforward package. If you are wondering what the fuss is about and why can't these women just go off to a nunnery somewhere, well, YOU are called to examine your true faith: the women can't go off somewhere else -- we are all in the body of Christ. We are all loved by G_d -- and this is a work of love by John Wijngaards.
