Women in the Ministry

[CollegeKid]

As in all the congregations of the saints, women should remain silent in the churches. They are not allowed to speak, but must be in submission, as the Law says. If they want to inquire about something, they should ask their own husbands at home; for it is disgraceful for a woman to speak in the church. (NIV, 1 Corinthians 14:33-35)

I saw this quote from 1 Corinthians on thomas bokenkotter’s “two paths” website on the section about women in the ministry (not that I believe everything thomas bokenkotter says, afterall I have read part of his “A Concise History of the Catholic Church” and personally found it to be full of liberal editorializing). Just taking this passage at face value, though, forces me to ask: are we violating the Law by letting women read during parts of the Mass?

 

[the-3rd-parent]

No. This was merely St. Paul’s advice. It seems that women during the Mass were speaking out of turn and trying to make it more of a discussion where they could ask questions and start preaching their own opinions.

At least this is what I read. I probably read it on here, but I don’t remember.

 

[jax8686]

[supposedly] Women sat in a side section of the church, where the men would have sat in the main portion, (in Corinth), Paul is saying for the women to ask for clarification at home, so not to be yelling during mass asking for what the preist would have said during the homily…

 

[swnunley]

This is one of those scripture passages that is difficult to interpret, and we need someone with the authority to teach us what it means.

According to Canon Law, and many encyclicals and letters, there are appropriate times for women to participate in the liturgy.

The speaking of women in the congregation Paul is refering to, IMHO, is about women preaching/teaching in the Church.