Corki:
That document is one of the treasures of the legacy of JPII. Read that together with “On the Collaboration of Men and Men in the Church and in the World”
here to see how NOT misogynistic authentic Catholic teaching is.
Mark and Marilyn, you bring up a great topic! It is true that the Church is often falsely accused of this and other wrongs. Time and again we are able to defend against these critics you mention simply by going to the source documents.
Thank you!
And thanks for introducing the other documents to put all this into proper perspective. Here is some more historical research on the great contributions First Millenium women had made to Christendom and particularly the Church…
It’s from extensive research done by Holly Dressel; documents written (and narrated on video) by Gloria Demers; other research, production, direction and publications by Margaret Wescott, Signe Johansson, Kathleen Shannon…:
o At one time, … an abbess could even host a synod. The Great Abbesses were not mere custodians but leaders who had the same power and authority as bishops.
o 702: Alfleda, famous comforter and best counsellor in all Northumbria, the intellectual centre of 8th Century England. As a diplomatic genius, she was appointed to mediate between the beseiged Bishop of York and his enemies. She also hosted a synod on the River Nyd.
o Briquida of Sweden – had a bishop’s mitre in her possession. She headed a double monastery in Whitby, worked diligently for the poor and sick, and was welcomed in courts all over Europe.
o Matilda of Quenenburg – established many centres of learning, ruled one major centre with many clerics, and hosted a synod attended by the pope. Some male clerics later tried to oust her from power but failed.
o Gertrude of Nivelle – lived only 33 years, yet she became famous across Europe for her achievements. She had a Crozia, a bishop’s staff with the curled symbol, in possession of the Convent of Salzburg. She also had a mitre in her wardrobe. No ordinary nun would ever have been permitted such possessions.
o Scholastica – educated her students in a rich textile culture. The period produced brilliant scholars, devoted to the fine art of weaving and spirituality. One superbly designed robe is still on display to this day at the Victoria & Albert Museum.
o Claricia – script writer, calligrapher and profoundly intuitive artist, “whimsically” sketched and painted a “Q” with the tail a portrait of herself.
o Radica – from a long line of abbesses, well educated teachers and scholars, and – Herat – together compiled an encyclopedia of education for nuns. At the time, abbesses heard confessions from sisters, distributed communion, preached and performed liturgical rites, but the greatest abbess of all was…
o Hildegaard of Bingham – the greatest female genius, who could be recognized in any age. She was a mystic, philosopher and consultant to kings, as well as an expert on medical science and anatomy. Her works presaged medical discoveries on the circulatory and central nervous system. She was also a musician, a composer and had spiritual visions such as the “Scyvia,” a holistic universe with heavenly scenes featuring mitres on female heads. One great tapestry showed Sophia, the goddess of wisdom, guiding Socrates and Plato in the three fields of Logic, Ethics and Physics, from which flowed the seven great disciplines.
Where do you stand on the dignity and status of women?
I’ll add that to my list of reasons I’m glad I’m a woman.