Heartland Catholic Podcast: An interview with Bishop Williamson

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Posted over at heartlandcatholic.org/podcast.aspx:

Welcome to “Episode Zero” of the Heartland Catholic Podcast!

For our very first podcast we’re delighted to have an interview with the always interesting Bishop Richard Williamson. His Excellency recently published a letter in which he took issue with the idea of granting the title “Doctor of the Church” to female Saints (dinoscopus.blogspot.com/2007/10/doctoresses.html). The content of that letter has been the subject of many internet blogs and discussion fora, and today his Excellency discusses the topic in greater depth with hostess Colleen Hammond.

Direct link to the audio: HeartlandCatholic.org/hccast/20071016__0000__Interview_with_Bishop_Williamson.mp3

Subscribe the the podcast feed: heartlandcatholic.org/hccast.php

 

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I read his letter in the blog and I think his concerns are unfounded. Doctors of the Church do not set out to be Doctors of the Church–if they do, they are on the path of pride to spiritual ruin. This is the case for both men and women. Likewise, someone who gets up in front of men with provocative clothing is not going to be canonized anyway. These women who have been proclaimed doctors, rather than inducing women to dress and act immodestly and pridefully, do just the opposite. Any brief study of their writings and lives will show that. In fact, they are models of femininity that are badly, badly needed in today’s world. Furthermore, in our stormy times, the writings of Sts. Catherine and Teresa are gravely needed for all people. Likewise, in the modern world with its disconnect between religion and everyday life, the writings of St. Therese are perfect to counteract this disconnect.

As for women having “imperfect wisdom,” Williamson contradicts himself when praising their God-given wisdom and orthodoxy a few sentences before. St. Thomas was working with bad biology which said women were essentially defective men (a defect in the process of conception produced a woman instead of a man which is produce if everything goes right). Of course, we now know this is not true.

 

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In fact, [the Doctoresses] are models of femininity that are badly, badly needed in today’s world. Furthermore, in our stormy times, the writings of Sts. Catherine and Teresa are gravely needed for all people. Likewise, in the modern world with its disconnect between religion and everyday life, the writings of St. Therese are perfect to counteract this disconnect.

And he said as much in the podcast. His letter is merely background for the interview, which goes into the topic at much greater depth.