The social consequences of our
Campaign
The ordination of women will enrich the Church with the charisms of
women. This will have spiritual and pastoral consequences. It also has enormous
implications for the social welfare of women.
Here we present two examples of such social consequences: one from
Asia and one from Africa. Women will suffer, also socially and physically, as
long as the Church continues to ban women from leadership roles in the Church.
Eradicating the oppression of women in Asia
"We are members of the Catholic Church in Malaysia who have
been and still are involved in church organizations, basic Christian
communities, inter-religious organizations and various non-governmental
organizations for women, justice, the poor and the marginalised. We strongly
support the application for financial support to maintain www.womenpriests.org. We agree with the arguments for the
ordination of women as published on this website, and fully support the
ordination of women in the Catholic Church."
"In our culture where women are less worthy, less privileged and
less holy, we desperately need to change the mindset of both men and women to
bring about a just society. Just as the Catholic Church is recognised for its
leadership on issues of justice and solidarity with the poor, it is in a
similar position of leadership and influence for the eradication of oppression
of women. When women will be admitted into the priesthood in the Catholic
Church, its teaching that women and men are both equally made in the image of
God would be credible. By this move, the Catholic Church would finally give due
recognition to the dignity of women, and their role in society."
Signed by 27 women and
men
Protecting women against AIDS in Africa
Another relevant example is the question of AIDS in Africa .
It is an enormous problem. During the last two decades 24 milions died of AIDS,
2.3 million in 2003 alone. In some countries 40% of the population is infected.
In a patriarchal society it frequently is the women and their children who are
the innocent victims.
It is tragic that the official teaching authority of the Roman
Catholic Church, the Pope and the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith in
Rome, still declare the use of contraceptives ‘intrinsically evil’
in any circumstances, including during an epidemic like AIDS. According to
official Roman Catholic teaching, women may not protect themselves against the
advances of their husbands, even if they are infected with AIDS.
The origin of this misguided prohibition
lies not only in a wrong interpretation of Christian principles, but also in
the fact that women have no say in these matters. Everything is decided by men.
