Pope Francis: The Church needs more female theologians

[simpleas]

A step in the right direction

Pope Francis :

“on certain unexplored and profound aspects of the mystery of Christ”

and I love when he says :

“They’re the strawberries on the cake, but we need more of them”



youtube.com/watch?v=Slfu_FNXULE

 

[KidCatholic1]

Of course! Our Pope is a good man. Having more female theologians in the Church is a great step in the right direction. :heaven:

gallup.com/poll/7432/why-women-more-religious.aspx

 

[JackVk]

I can hear the peanut gallery now:

“YES! HE WANTS WOMENPRIESTS!”

“NO! WOMEN ARE BABY MACHINES BECAUSE TRADITION!”

“HERETIC!”

“FUNDAMENTALIST!”

 

[triumphguy]

There’s a few we can get rid of first - Elisabeth Schüssler Fiorenza and Joan Chittister come to mind.

 

[JackVk]

There’s a few we can get rid of first - Elisabeth Schüssler Fiorenza and Joan Chittister come to mind.

Never heard of the first one, but the second and her ilk (along with male counterparts like Rohr, Kung, and Rahner), if they’re not dead, have sunk into irrelevance, where there is wailing and gnashing of dentures.

 

[RosslynV]

Francis is credited with saying that " fundamental theology is one of the most boring things in the world." I don’t hold it against him. Benedict was known as a reputable V2 theologian. But not everyone is endowed with all talents. Francis has other skills Benedict lacked.

 

[Nate8080]

A step in the right direction

Pope Francis :

“on certain unexplored and profound aspects of the mystery of Christ”

and I love when he says :

“They’re the strawberries on the cake, but we need more of them”



youtube.com/watch?v=Slfu_FNXULE

The problem with Francis is that his statements are so open-ended. This one is probably going to lead to as much confusion as the whole gay-thing did. He should have said, “The Church needs more women theologians, but I am in no way advocating the idea of women being allowed to be priests.” Benedict was good that way, he could say something precisely so the media had no elbow room to twist or contort what he said. Francis…not so much…that whole gay thing almost created a crisis in the Church, merely because he couldn’t be precise that Church doctrine doesn’t change.

 

[fnr]

There’s a few we can get rid of first - Elisabeth Schüssler Fiorenza and Joan Chittister come to mind.

What about Schussler Fiorenza’s work do you find objectionable?

 

[triumphguy]

What about Schussler Fiorenza’s work do you find objectionable?

Apart from signing on to A Catholic Statement on Pluralism and Abortion

Her description of the Church as a series of paternalistic relationships of authority, power and tradition which silences the marginal voices

Her desire to de-stabilize the centre of our Church (Elisabeth Schüssler Fiorenza, Rhetoric and Ethics: Ethics: The Politics of Biblical Studies (Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 1999), 7.)

The use of the made-up word kyriarchy ‘rule of the lord, master, father, husband’ to describe (and demean) our Church, which she uses as an:

analytic category in order to be able to articulate a more comprehensive systemic analysis, to underscore the complex interstructuring of domination, and to locate
sexism and misogyny in the political matrix or, better, patrix of a broader range of oppressions. aejt.com.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0009/395514/AEJT_5.12_Tuohy.pdf

All of which is inevitably based on a Marxist analysis: ie., thesis, antithesis and synthesis (otherness (non person or wo/man) versus kyriarchy).

Apart from that shes a pretty good read.

 

[SuS33]

Which part of “The Church needs more women theologians” could be misunderstood as “The Church needs women priests”? Stop atacking our shaphard poeple. He only does what Christ says through him. Yes we do need more women theologians. It has nothing to do with priesthood.

 

[VeritasLuxMea]

Looks like the media has put some people on tilt.

There should no reason why the mere admission that women actually exist and have talents (just as men do) should be controversial.

 

[Joie_de_Vivre]

A step in the right direction

Pope Francis :

“on certain unexplored and profound aspects of the mystery of Christ”

and I love when he says :

“They’re the strawberries on the cake, but we need more of them”



youtube.com/watch?v=Slfu_FNXULE

He compared them with a type of fruit, clearly he wants more lesbian theologians

(I am jesting of course.)

The problem with Francis is that his statements are so open-ended. This one is probably going to lead to as much confusion as the whole gay-thing did. He should have said, “The Church needs more women theologians, but I am in no way advocating the idea of women being allowed to be priests.” Benedict was good that way, he could say something precisely so the media had no elbow room to twist or contort what he said. Francis…not so much…that whole gay thing almost created a crisis in the Church, merely because he couldn’t be precise that Church doctrine doesn’t change.

Couching everything with layers of qualifications, while precise, detracts from the message.

 

[simpleas]

He’s SO RIGHT!!!

Though I don’t like his strawberries line, I must say. It makes women sound like they are decoration instead of part of the cake, which is what they are.

Because then he praises our “feminine genius”.
He’s got that right!

.

.

I didn’t take it like that, I thought more of the beauty a women adds to what is already present.

 

[simpleas]

He compared them with a type of fruit, clearly he wants more lesbian theologians

(I am jesting of course.)

Couching everything with layers of qualifications, while precise, detracts from the message.

Ha… Or maybe he was implying that women are fruit cakes! lol.

Seriously though, I think it’s great that he is considering more of a active role for women, I’ve recently discovered writings by Julian of Norwich, although I don’t think she is classed as a theologian, because women were never credited for there knowledge and wisdom, but hopefully things will start to change

 

[Brendan]

There’s a few we can get rid of first - Elisabeth Schüssler Fiorenza and Joan Chittister come to mind.

He said ‘female theologians’. While they are certainly female, any claim that they are ‘theologians’ is purely speculative

 

[EIF5A]

Does the Pope have the authority to declare a female saint who left behind theological writings as a Doctor of the Church or is there a long process involved?

 

[Xeyed818]

Ha… Or maybe he was implying that women are fruit cakes! lol.

Seriously though, I think it’s great that he is considering more of a active role for women, I’ve recently discovered writings by Julian of Norwich, although I don’t think she is classed as a theologian, because women were never credited for there knowledge and wisdom, but hopefully things will start to change

because women were never credited for there knowledge and wisdom,<<

That’s the part that I’m finding difficult to absorb. For 6,000 years, ‘female theologian’ was an oxymoron.

After 2,000 years, (and at least one Age of Enlightenment) they’ve discovered nooks and crannies that male theologians missed - or can’t access?

Pope Francis said, “…They’re strawberries on the cake. Female theologians can shed light, for the good of everyone, on certain unexplored and profound aspects of the mystery of Christ. I invite all of you to take advantage of these specific contributions women can make in matters of faith.”

Some ‘specifics’ would be helpful.

Also, I’ve read where ‘strawberries’ have a mystical element to them, although I don’t know if Pope Francis was alluding to that in this case. As mystified as I am over the other statements, however, it’s quite possible.

Best to All,

Pamela

 

[marymary1975]

Does the Pope have the authority to declare a female saint who left behind theological writings as a Doctor of the Church or is there a long process involved?

I think he can do it himself and I hope that this is where he is getting to. There are many female saints with amazing writings that should be looked into to become doctors of the church. I think is sad that there are only four or five female doctors of the church while the male list keeps growing and becoming bigger. Julian of Norwich is a good example. I think her writings at least deserve to be looked at. Also st Gertrude the great has great writings. Too bad she is practically unknown.

 

[Joie_de_Vivre]

I think he can do it himself and I hope that this is where he is getting to. There are many female saints with amazing writings that should be looked into to become doctors of the church. I think is sad that there are only four or five female doctors of the church while the male list keeps growing and becoming bigger. Julian of Norwich is a good example. I think her writings at least deserve to be looked at.

Of the last five added four have been women.

 

[Xeyed818]

Of the last five added four have been women.

It might be best to ‘up the limit’ from 30 to however many women the Pope would like to see included. Not sure how the male theologians feel about being ‘replaced’ by a female theologian.

Pamela