Womanist Theology

This article is very interesting. A convert to the faith has combined liberation theology and feminism and her experiences to create Womanist Theology. Diana L. Hayes was a lawyer in New York and is now a theologian at Georgetown.

Q How does womanist theology deal with Mary, Mary Magdalene and Eve?

A: They're all given a very different perspective on how they can be seen. There's that dualism of a whore or virgin that sadly still exists. Either role is not one a woman would want. Who are the models for average, normal women who get married and have children or who chose not to marry; for women who cannot strive for the perfection of the humble Mary, who never quarreled or fussed or had a bad day in her life? That's impossible; she was human.

Mary Magdalene was the first to receive the gospel. Somehow, that doesn't get talked about. [Pope] John Paul has called her the apostles' apostle. What would happen if these women were lifted up as different models, as challenging, revolutionary women? There are so many stories in the Old Testament and the New Testament that show women as prophets and judges. Let's read the whole Bible, so you can have some sort of dialog.

Right On Sister!

Llen Ryan of Marietta, Ga., washes a man's feet outside the Cathedral of Christ the King, Thursday, April 8, 2004, in Atlanta. A group of people gathered outside the church to pray and wash each other's feet in protest of Archbishop John Donoghue's ban on Atlanta's Roman Catholic churches from including women in Holy Thursday's foot-washing rite. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)

Maundy Thursday

I just got back from Holy Thursday Mass and I am so mad I can hardly think. I have heard of liturgical abuses yet I thought I would never have to see one. This was even worse it was liturgical gender abuse. It came to the time for the foot washing and up come twelve men. At first I thought that my eyes deceived me and what I was witnessing couldn't be happening, that maybe there would also be twelve women joining them. I looked again and sure enough it was twelve men and nothing but men.

My femininity cried out from the core at this shocking slight handed down to half of the human race. Now I know that the actual rubrics call for only men and that this ceremony is supposed to be representational of the Apostles and the institution of the priesthood. But I thought we were long past blindly following documents from across the Tiber. We know better and besides we have been doing a foot washing that displayed the proper numerical and gender equality for years and no one has stopped us.

The fact is women should be ordained and softening peoples reaction to this through as much gender inclusion in the Mass helps our cause. To relinquish even a little of this gender inclusiveness sends us back to the days of misogynists galore. We now have a gestalt in Apostolic tradition and the spirit is letting us know that it is finally the time for women to join their brothers in the ministerial priesthood. Priests and Priestesses co-celebrating together. Protestant denominations have already responded to the call. We need a modern St. Paul or actually Paula to go to the pope (Peter) and oppose him to his face until he relents in his sarcedotal gender exclusion.