Phoenix Arizona Diocese Cathedral Won't Allow Girls Serve On Altar

[Elizabeth502]

If someone said that women and men are equal but that they should not perform the same functions, such as women should not be allowed to drive or to vote, and men should not be allowed to do housecleaning or changing baby diapers, then how would someone respond to that?

No. That does not flow logically. Your assumption (not the Roman Church’s) is that equality is predicated on function, which it is not. A differentiation in function is not a differentiation in status.

Equality in the reliigous/spiritual realm is not related to function, but to the universally available spiritual generosity of God, by which all, equally, have the opportunity to attain holiness. (And further, that men and women, young and old, rich and poor, lay and clergy, are universally and without exception called to holiness.) Both the sons and the daughters of God are equally valued, we are taught. And that is where we should be deriving our identity and internalizing that identity. Our identity does not derive from our functions, nor does our value derive from our (differentiated) functions.

And if that were not true, then by definition clergy would have a higher spiritual status in God’s eyes simply due to function. Yet they don’t. Anyone who would claim that would be opposing Catholic theology. (This seems the appropriate week to insert Therese of Lisieux’s spirituality of “littleness.”) My gentle, tender, selfless Italian gardener has zero positions in the Church, yet, with the simplicity and humility of St. Francis himself, the man is surely entering heaven about 40 years before any individual man or woman I currently know, including those in the clergy or religious life.

 

[ColNY]

And if that were not true, then by definition clergy would have a higher spiritual status in God’s eyes simply due to function. Yet they don’t. Anyone who would claim that would be opposing Catholic theology. (This seems the appropriate week to insert Therese of Lisieux’s spirituality of “littleness.”) My gentle, tender, selfless Italian gardener has zero positions in the Church, yet, with the simplicity and humility of St. Francis himself, the man is surely entering heaven about 40 years before any individual man or woman I currently know, including those in the clergy or religious life.

Putting aside for a second all differences in thought on girls serving on the altar, I do want to see what a blessing for you to meet someone that just glows with pure, recognizable goodness. Very rare these days.

 

[Elizabeth502]

Putting aside for a second all differences in thought on girls serving on the altar, I do want to see what a blessing for you to meet someone that just glows with pure, recognizable goodness. Very rare these days.

Indeed, and thank you. Everyone should meet such simplicity in at least one person (hopefully more!) during their lifetime, in order to see the true face of Christ in others. Quite humbling and awe-inspiring.

 

[Annabelle_Marie]

Madam, that’s more than semantics.

Oh and, by the way, women aren’t marginalized by not being allowed to serve at the altar, and people who view women as marginal beings aren’t changing their opinions based on them being allowed to serve at the altar.

If allowing women to serve at the altar is just an attempt to right a perceived marginalization of women, then it’s a really poor attempt.

Please go back and read post #680, #694 and #703. What I said was I recognize the right for a priest to choose only males to serve…someone was saying…no…it’s not a right…it’s the norm. So yes…it is kind of semantics. If a priest chooses the norm…or chooses only males to serve…same thing. A priest has to make that action usually to accomplish that…as with Phoenix Cathedral. Either way…the same thing happens.

You will have to ask Rome about allowing women to serve at the altar as it does allow that option currently. What I was talking about it people who go to far and clearly beyond what Rome says about other roles for women such as EMHC’s (when needed), readers, etc…

 

[Annabelle_Marie]

Indeed, and thank you. Everyone should meet such simplicity in at least one person (hopefully more!) during their lifetime, in order to see the true face of Christ in others. Quite humbling and awe-inspiring.

That would be our priest:thumbsup: He’s one of the first people I’ve met where you can truly see Christ in him.