My word of thanks to women thus becomes a heartfelt appeal that everyone, and in a special way states and international institutions, should make every effort to ensure that women regain full respect for their dignity and role. Here I cannot fail to express my admiration for those women of good will who have devoted their lives to defending the dignity of womanhood by fighting for their basic social, economic and political rights, demonstrating courageous initiative at a time when this was considered extremely inappropriate, the sign of a lack of femininity, a manifestation of exhibitionism and even a sin!

- Pope John Paul II, Letter to Women, June 29, 1995 Papal Letter to the Beijing Conference on Women.

Pope John Paul II

In 1994, Pope John Paul II declares:
 
Wherefore, in order that all doubt may be removed regarding a matter of great importance, a matter which pertains to the Church's divine constitution itself, in virtue of my ministry of confirming the brethren (cf. Lk 22:32) I declare that the Church has no authority whatsoever to confer priestly ordination on women and that this judgment is to be definitively held by all the Church's faithful.

- Ordinatio Sacerdotalis, May 22, 1994 Apostolic Letter by Pope John-Paul II on reserving priestly ordination to men alone.

 

In June 2008, Women's Ordination Worldwide respectfully points out:

...In baptism, women and men share equally in the priesthood of Christ. Baptism implies a fundamental openness to all sacraments, including Holy Orders. The history of the Church documents the ordination of women.  Jennifer Stark, coordinator of WOW, commented, ‘This is a global issue. In many countries around the world, the exclusion of women from ordained ministry, and thus from the decision-making structures of a worldwide church, has profound effects for their position and well being, and that of their children. It signals that they are lesser beings in the eyes of God.’ ...

Read complete statement, click here: http://www.womenpriests.org/circles/fb.asp?m=32286

______________________________________________________________________________________________

Women’s Ordination Worldwide was established during the First European Women’s Synod in Gmunden, Austria in 1996. It is a network of national and international organisations working for the inclusion of women in all ordained ministries. WOW has hosted two international conferences (Dublin 2001 and Ottawa 2005) and plans to hold a third conference in California in 2010.
______________________________________________________________________________________________

Dear friends,

A double standard?  Words about equality for women in the world but not in the Church?  If Pope John Paul II has said there can be no women priests, how is it that we are here today advancing the case for women's ordination?  At www.womenpriests.org, we are a group Roman Catholic theologians who deeply loves our family, the Catholic Church. While we fully accept the authority of the Pope, we also are convinced that he and his advisors in Rome are making a serious mistake by dismissing women as priests. We feel obliged in conscience to make our carefully considered reasons known, fulfilling our duty to speak out as our present Pope has repeatedly told us to do. 

In doing this, we have carefully assembled literally thousands of documents that will help our visitors assess both sides of the case. Our site is unique in that in addition to outlining the case for women's ordination, we also provide in full all Vatican documents that ban the ordination of women. 
 
Our summary that explains it and provides extensive links is available in a nutshell here:

• Key Points: Introduction - http://www.womenpriests.org/story.asp
  
• Seven Reasons Why Women Can and Receive Holy Orders -http://www.womenpriests.org/preasons.asp
  
  • 1. One priesthood in Christ:Through baptism women and men share equally in the new priesthood of Christ. This includes openness to Holy Orders. click!
    
  • 2. Empowered to preside: At the Last Supper Jesus empowered both women and men. Both can be ordained to preside at the Eucharist. click!
    
  • 3. Cultural bias: The Church’s practice of not ordaining women as priests was based on a three-fold prejudice against women. This affected the judgment of Church leaders. click!
    
  • 4. Women have been deacons: Until at least the ninth century the Church gave women the full sacramental ordination of deacons. This proves women can be ordained. click!
    
  • 5. The ability for women to be ordained has been present in the Church’s latent Tradition. One example is the age-long devotion to Mary as Priest. It shows that, according to the ‘sense of the faithful’, in Mary the ban against women has already been overcome. click!
    
  • 6. The wider Church accepts women priests: After serious study and prayer other Christian Churches now ordain women as priests. Though not everything other Churches do can be accepted by the Catholic Church, this converging consensus by believing Christians confirms that ordaining women is according to the mind of Christ. click!
    
  • 7. Women too are, in fact, called to be priests: The fact that many responsible Catholic women discern in themselves a vocation to the priesthood is a sign of the Holy Spirit we may not ignore. click!

Conclusion: there are no valid arguments against women priests, and many truly Catholic arguments in favour!  If you have any questions, as always, please let me know!

A double standard?  Equality for women in the world but not in the Church?  What do you think?
 
with love and blessings,
 
~Sophie~

 
Pakistan International Women's Day

A member of a Pakistani civil society with a candle take part in a rally in connection with International Women’s Day in Lahore, Pakistan on Saturday, March 7, 2009. Pakistan will observe the International Women’s Day along with other nations, on Sunday. It is a major day of global celebration for the economic, political and social achievements of women.

http://suomenkuvalehti.fi/kuvat/2009/03/07/pakistan-international-women39s-day

International Women's Day official message of Government of Trinidad and Togago released

I am very pleased to address you on this special occasion, the commemoration of International Women’s Day. After having been first celebrated in 1909, International Women’s Day was endorsed by the United Nations in 1945. Now 100 years later, the Observance of International Women’s Day on March 8th, has undoubtedly assumed global importance. Around the world, it is commemorated in a very rich and diverse manner. Activities range from the hosting of rallies, and craft fairs, to business conferences, networking events, government-led activities and parades.

 
Minister of Community Development, Culture and Gender Affairs
Honourable Marlene McDonald

In Trinidad and Tobago, we first commemorated International Women’s Day fifty-one years ago. Activities in those early years included organized rallies, placard protests for maternity benefits and other much needed benefits for women. In more recent times, the Network of NGOS for the Advancement of Women in Trinidad and Tobago, as well as Government agencies, and, in particular, the Ministry of Community Development, Culture and Gender Affairs, have been at the forefront of this Observance. The occasion is now used to reflect on and recognize the struggle for gender equality and equity, and it is now a time to celebrate the progress of women.

Additionally, this year’s Observance serves to rally the country to work towards the goal identified in Government’s Vision 2020 development plan, which envisages, and I quote, “a society in which men and women contribute to, and benefit from, equitable access to and control of resources.”

The United Nations’ theme for International Women’s Day 2009 is “Women and Men United to End Violence Against Women and Girls.” Violence Against Women and Girls must be totally eradicated from Trinidad and Tobago. My Ministry will maintain the United Nations’ theme for our sustained campaign, which will be intensified over the next year. Specific focus will be placed on collaboration and networking as critical strategies to address this problem with which, as we know, the world continues to grapple.

As the Minister with portfolio responsibility for Gender Affairs, I reiterate Government’s commitment to improving the status of women, men, boys and girls. The Ministry condemns violence in all its forms, and particularly gender-based violence.

Through our various programmes and projects, we will continue to engage our men and boys in the struggle to end violence against women and girls. Some of our most successful programmes to date include:

• the Defining Masculine Excellence Programme
  
• the Domestic Violence Unit and its 800-SAVE hotline
  
• the Food Preparation & Home Management Course for Men & Boys

Through these programmes we continue to champion the Vision 2020 Developmental Pillar of “nurturing a caring society.”

As I close, I urge all sectors of society, including business, media, civil society, schools and universities to get involved. Ending violence against women and girls is everybody’s business. Your contribution is highly valued and needed. Ministry activities for International Women’s Day are being hosted across the country, as we decentralize celebrations this year across our communities. From Princes Town to Salybia, an event marking International Women’s Day is taking place near you. Participating is one of the best ways we can all re-commit to the continued advancement of women and girls in Trinidad and Tobago.

I take the opportunity, on behalf of the Honourable Prime Minister and the Government of Trinidad and Tobago, to wish our country’s women and girls a happy and productive International Women’s Day 2009.

I thank you.

The Honourable Marlene McDonald
Minister of Community Development, Culture and Gender Affairs
Government of Trinidad and Tobago

http://www.news.gov.tt/index.php?news=996

India has little to celebrate on Women's Day
Himanshi Dhawan
The Times of India
March 8, 2009

This may hardly be the time to 'celebrate' International Women's Day. Just recently, women were beaten for sitting in a pub; one was stripped naked for an FIR to be lodged against her husband, and socio-economic indices overall for Indian women continue to be lower than in the developed world.
 
Studies show that a woman is raped every 35 minutes in India; female child mortality is higher than male by 25%-50% in India, Bangladesh and Nepal; about 60% of women all over the world have complained about sexual harassment and that the average South Asian woman's risk of dying in childbirth is a hundred times greater than for a woman in an industrialised country (1 in 43 for South Asia and 1 in 4,000 for the developed world).

India may have made some positive gains when it comes to infant mortality but the maternal mortality ratio is rising, as is discrimination and violence against women.

Experts say that things cannot change much unless women are empowered. Socio-economic independence is one way to do this, as well as allowing women to participate in governance.

Anne F Stenhammer, UNIFEM regional programme director, says,"There is lack of coordination and understanding in the government. Issues like trafficking and prostitution are a global challenge and require global legislation to tackle the problem. Political leadership needs to connect better as trafficking is also linked to crime, drugs and health (HIV/AIDS)."

One of the biggest reasons that little or nothing seems to change for the better for Indian women is the lack of strong and good law. Legislation is still awaited on anti-trafficking, the indecent representation of women, sexual harassment at theworkplace and the compulsory registration of marriages.

They have been on the anvil for several years but are yet to go on the statute book. "Strengthening of legislations are an ongoing process but my biggest regret is the fact that we could not bring the Bill for 33% reservation of women in Parliament," women and child development minister Renuka Choudhary said.

It may be relevant to point out that though women's representation at the panchayat level is high, representation in Parliament has barely improved from 4.4% at Independence to about 9% today.

Civil society activists suggest that bringing in legislation is inadequate if not backed by sufficient resources. "We need to train protection officers and sensitise police officers to be able to handle cases related to crimes against women," says Rishikant, whose NGO Shakti Vahini works with trafficked women.

He adds that there is no political will to act on issues related to discrimination and violence against women.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Sunday-TOI/India-has-little-to-celebrate-on-Womens-Day/articleshow/4240147.cms

A century later the issues are very similar
by Brinda Karat
The Hindu
India's National NewsPaper
The Front Page
March 8, 2009
 
On this International Women’s Day, the key issues bear a striking resemblance to the issues that moved women into action around the time of the Copenhagen Conference of 1910: jobs under threat, rising prices, democratic representation, and peace versus war
 

ON WOMEN'S DAY: As this year's International Women's Day dawns, the struggle for equality and emancipation is a continuing story, more so in the context of the economic downturn. An ILO report says gender equality should be part of the policy responses to the crisis,including stimulus packages. In this photograph, a blacksmith is at work in Khammam, Andhra Pradesh, on Saturday. - PHOTO: G.N. RAO

March 8 is celebrated all over the world as International Women’s Day.

Next year will mark the centenary of its observance. Women can certainly claim several historic achievements during the long struggle for equality and emancipation. But today in a strange twist of history, the same issues that moved women into action in 1910 resonate not only in India but across the world.

In the context of the devastating global financial tsunami and the consequent recessionary trends, hundreds of thousands of women – particularly in developing countries like India – who found new avenues of employment in export linked industries, find their jobs under threat. They are being asked to accept retrenchment, layoffs, cuts in pay, changes in their job conditions from regular to casual or contractual employment, in other words changes that will lead to a sharp deterioration in the quality of their already difficult lives.

In India, of the 18 million urban women workers, six million (according to NSS data) are employed in the leather, garments, or textile industries, precisely the industries that face a serious crisis. In Tirupur, one of Asia’s largest hosiery centres, 40,000 workers have lost their jobs. The majority of them are young women workers. In a survey conducted in Delhi by the All India Democratic Women’s Association, home-based women workers taking in outsourced work from garment or shoe manufacturing industries reported a sharp cut in work available and a depression in their already meagre piece-rated work (with many of them earning just Rs. 20 rupees a day for a 12 hour work day).

For these women and the countless others like them, the voices of the garment and textile workers of New York who marched through the streets of the city in 1908 demanding better work, wages, and conditions resonate through history. Struggles of women workers erupted in several centres of America and Europe. It was to commemorate the march of the women workers that two years later, at the Second International Socialist Conference of Working Women in Copenhagen, a call for an Observance of an International Day to highlight women’s demands came from the German socialist revolutionary leader, Clara Zetkin. The 100 women delegates present from 13 countries included the first three women MPs elected to the Finnish Parliament, and also Alexandra Kollontai, representing the Petersburg textile workers, who later became the first woman member of the central committee of the Bolshevik Party. They endorsed the proposal and worked out a charter of demands, starting with the rights of women workers.

The relevance of those demands to the present context is striking. Governments, including India’s government, give corporate bailouts but refuse to address the urgent demands of workers for protection of jobs, wages, and working conditions. On this Women’s Day, the demands of working women will occupy centre stage, as they did a century ago.

Rising prices have come to the fore along with the issue of work. Recently, Indian women, in a charter addressed to all political parties ahead of the 15th general election, outlined the need for a change in policies to check the relentless rise in prices.

 
A long way to go: Women workers at a National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme work-site in a village in Udaipur district, Rajasthan.

A key issue raised in the 1910 Copenhagen conference was that of the women’s right to vote. All sections of women, from workers to aristocrats, protested through militant actions against the barriers that denied women the legal right to participate in elections. “The question of making Parliament more democratic” wrote Kollontai “that is, of widening the franchise and extending the vote to women was a vital issue.” These words echoed in the speeches heard on the streets of New Delhi when women gathered outside Parliament against the United Progressive Alliance government’s betrayal on the Women’s Reservation Bill.

Today the “question of making Parliament more democratic” hinges on increased representation of women. Governments have failed to redeem the pledge they made to women through the ratification of the Beijing declaration in 1995, which mandated them to ensure at least one-third women’s representation in elected bodies. According to recent data, women’s representation globally is 18.4 per cent. There has been considerable improvement, with 24 countries crossing the 30 per cent mark in Parliament. But in India patriarchy and short-sighted political leadership reign supreme, so much so that women constituted just eight per cent of the membership of the 14th Lok Sabha.

In the early period of observance of Women’s Day, women warned of impending war and stressed the slogan of peace against war. It was the struggle for ‘bread, not war” that, on Women’s Day in 1917, brought Russian women out in militant demonstrations against the Tsarist regime, heralding the beginning of revolutionary events that eventually led to the establishment of the first socialist state in the world.

The context in 2009 is of course different. Today we have the reality of a superpower that wants to carve the world in its image, on its conditions and command. In 2009 the images of the murderous bombing of the Gaza school compound sheltering women and children enrage the world. In Iraq and Afghanistan, the bloody trail of imperialist aggression on sovereign countries has cost the lives of thousands, including those of innocent women and children. On Women’s Day, the voices of solidarity with the movement for peace and with people’s resistance to the wars against their countries will be heard in thousands of rallies round the world.

Is there a deeper message in all this? Is it not true that inequality between nations, social classes, the rich and the poor, and between men and women has intensified? These are the questions women will be asking in the midst of the unprecedented economic crisis. The answers they find are certainly likely to have a wide impact on governments and political parties.

http://www.hindu.com/2009/03/08/stories/2009030855591000.htm

International Women's Day
Editorial
Daily News
Sri Lanka's Daily Newspaper
March 7, 2009

Tomorrow, women all over the world will celebrate the International Women's Day. In Sri Lanka too, various events have been organised by the Government and the private sector to mark this significant day in the calendar.

There are some on both sides of the gender divide who question the need for a separate day for women. But the truth is that the world needs to focus its attention on women on days such as these. Gender discrimination still exists even in the developed West and there are many countries where women are treated as second class citizens in male dominated societies.

True, women have come a long way since the world first marked the International Women's Day in 1911. Almost all countries have given women the franchise, jobs which were previously dominated by men have been opened to women and the education and health of women are considered a priority. Yet, women suffer silently in many societies both at domestic and social levels.

One of the biggest problems confronting women and girls is domestic and other forms of violence including physical and sexual abuse. Physical and sexual harassment of women is ingrained in many societies and not many women dare speak against such acts. There are many victims of rape who bear the trauma throughout their lives due to fear of stigma and the denial of social opportunities.

It is very appropriate that the UN has chosen to highlight violence against women on this women's day with the theme 'women and men united to end violence against women and girls'. As the theme suggests, the involvement of men is essential to prevent violence against women. Since most cases of domestic violence and even rape go unreported, methods have to be evolved to hear the stories of such victims. Moreover, countries must do more in terms of law enforcement to deter domestic violence and sexual harassment of women. The punishment for sexual and other offences against women in many countries is hardly adequate - the offenders are known to commit the same offences once released from jail.

That is just one of the major issues affecting women here and abroad.

According to the United Nations, women do two-thirds of the world's work but receive only 10 per cent of the world's income and own less than one per cent of land. Globally there is still a gender pay gap, a lack of women parliamentarians, and women's health overall around the world is worse than that of men. There are many developing countries where the education of the girl child is neglected. Girls and women are treated virtually as slaves in some societies.

The UN's Millennium Development Goals envision a better future for women and girls. While it is highly unlikely that these goals could be met by 2015, steady progress is being made with regard to the emancipation of women worldwide.

Sri Lanka's track record in this regard is rather impressive, despite being a developing country. Sri Lanka was one of the first countries in the world to grant voting rights for women, well before gaining Independence in 1948. Even developed countries envy some of our indices with regard to women and girls. Infant and maternal mortality is low, healthcare and education standards for women are high and many women hold top positions in the Government and private sectors.

One worrying factor is that political representation by women is still at a very low level in Sri Lanka, compared even to its neighbours, despite producing the world's first woman Prime Minister. Many reasons have been cited for this situation, including the complexities of the Proportional Representation system which requires a vast amount of funds and manpower for campaigning purposes and the inherent trend of violence in our electoral landscape. But the lack of women's representation denies women at large a voice in the decision-making process, be it in the village or Parliament.

This issue has to be addressed on a priority basis. It is gratifying to note that the major parties are making a conscious effort to include more women in their lists at every election.

The liberation of the North and the East has posed a challenge vis-a-vis the uplift of women and girls traumatised by years of conflict and LTTE tyranny in these provinces. Their educational, nutritional and social standards are low. The Women's Affairs, Education and Health Ministries should work in unison for their rehabilitation and integration to society. Among them are child soldiers conscripted by the LTTE.

The liberation of women is a task not only for the Government and women's groups. The society as a whole should be involved in this effort. It is women who give life to our world. All have a responsibility to ensure equal opportunities and a better life for women the world over.

http://www.dailynews.lk/2009/03/07/main_Editorial.asp

Discrimination against women weakens society: UN
The Hindu News
March 7, 2009
 
New York (PTI): Deeply rooted discrimination against women in political, economic, social and cultural spheres weakens society as a whole, the UN human rights chief has said on the occasion of International Women's Day.
 
Navi Pillay, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, noted that the negative effects of discrimination are magnified by conflict as well as natural and man-made disasters such as the current economic crisis.

The effect of meltdown in global markets and financial institutions and ensuing recession is likely to have a disproportionate impact on millions of women, who already formed the majority of the poor and disenfranchised even before the crisis developed.

"Unless gender-sensitive policies are adopted, I fear we may well witness a serious setback in areas where progress has taken decades to achieve," she said in message for the Day, observed annually on March 8.

In an opinion piece published in today's edition of USA Today, Ms. Pillay said that "growing up in apartheid South Africa as a person of colour and raised in poverty, I had experienced gender, race and class discrimination."

But, "I have (also) seen the power of ordinary people who have stood up against injustices they faced and triumphed," stressed the High Commissioner.

http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/holnus/001200903071553.htm

Celebrating International Women's Day
by US Secretary of State Hilary Clinton
March 5, 2009

On a trip to China eleven years ago, I met with women activists who told me about their efforts to advance conditions for women in their country. They offered a vivid portrait of the challenges women faced: employment discrimination, inadequate health care, domestic violence, antiquated laws that hindered women’s progress.  


US Secretary of State Hilary Clinton

I met some of those women again a few weeks ago, during my first trip to Asia as Secretary of State. This time, I heard about the progress that has been made in the past decade.  But even with some important steps forward, these Chinese women left no doubt that obstacles and inequities still remain, much as they do in many parts of the world. 

I’ve heard stories like theirs on every continent, as women seek opportunities to participate fully in the political, economic and cultural lives of their countries.  And on March 8, as we celebrate International Women’s Day, we have a chance to take stock of both the progress we’ve made and the challenges that remain—and to think about the vital role that women must play in helping to solve the complex global challenges of the 21st century.   

The problems we face today are too big and too complex to be solved without the full participation of women. Strengthening women’s rights is not only a continuing moral obligation—it is also a necessity as we face a global economic crisis, the spread of terrorism and nuclear weapons, regional conflicts that threaten families and communities, and climate change and the dangers it presents to the world’s health and security.  

These challenges demand everything we’ve got.  We will not solve them through half measures.  And yet too often, on these issues and many more, half the world is left behind. 

Today, more women are leading governments, businesses, and non-governmental organizations than in previous generations. But that good news has a flip side.  Women still comprise the majority of the world’s poor, unfed and unschooled. They are still subjected to rape as a tactic of war and exploited by traffickers globally in a billion dollar criminal business. 
Honor killings, maiming, female genital mutilation, and other violent and degrading practices that target women are still tolerated in too many places today.  Just a few months ago, a young girl in Afghanistan was on her way to school when a group of men threw acid in her face, permanently damaging her eyes, because they objected to her seeking an education. Their attempt to terrorize the girl and her family failed.  She said, “My parents told me to keep coming to school even if I am killed.”  

That young girl’s courage and resolve should serve as an inspiration to all of us—women and men—to continue to work as hard as we can to ensure that girls and women are accorded the rights and opportunities they deserve.  

Especially in the midst of this financial crisis, we must remember what a growing body of research tells us:  Supporting women is a high-yield investment, resulting in stronger economies, more vibrant civil societies, healthier communities, and greater peace and stability. And investing in women is a way to support future generations; women spend much more of their incomes on food, medicine and schooling for children.  

Even in developed nations, the full economic power of women is far from being realized.  Women in many countries continue to earn much less than men for doing the same jobs—a gap that President Obama took a step toward closing in the United States this year, when he signed the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act, which strengthens women’s ability to challenge unequal pay.

Women need to be given the chance to work for fair wages, access credit and launch businesses.  They deserve equity in the political sphere, with equal access at the voting booth and the freedom to petition their government and run for office.  They have a right to health care for themselves and their families, and a right to send their children to school—their sons and their daughters.  And they have a vital role to play in establishing peace and stability worldwide.  In regions torn apart by war, it is often the women who find a way to reach across differences and discover common ground. 

As I travel around the world in my new role, I will keep in mind the women I’ve already met on every continent—women who have struggled against extraordinary odds to change laws so they can own property, have rights in marriage, go to school, support their families—even serve as peacekeepers. 

And I will be a vocal advocate—working with my counterparts in other nations, as well as non-governmental organizations, businesses and individuals—to keep pressing forward on these issues.  Realizing the full potential and promise of women and girls is not only a matter of justice. It is a matter of enhancing global peace, progress, and prosperity for generations to come. 

http://trinidad.usembassy.gov/international_womens_day_.html

Pope Benedict praises women who work for the Kingdom of God
Catholic News Agency
March 8, 2009

Vatican City, Mar 8, 2009 / 10:42 am (CNA).- On Sunday Pope Benedict XVI made an appeal to include moments of prayer and silence during the season of Lent. Marking International Women's Day, he also pledged his prayers “for all women, that they may always be increasingly respected in their dignity and valued in their positive capabilities.”


Pope Benedict XVI

The Holy Father also asked for prayers for his trips to Africa and the Holy Land.

Speaking to about 20,000 faithful gathered in St. Peter's Square for the Angelus, the Pontiff recalled the Gospel reading for the Second Sunday of Lent, about the Transfiguration of Jesus, relating it to his experience of prayer during spiritual exercises with the Roman Curia, which concluded yesterday.

“The Transfiguration of Jesus,” the Pope said, “was substantially an experience of prayer.”

“Prayer, in fact, reaches its peak, and thus becomes a source of interior light, when the spirit of man clings to that of God, and their wills blend almost to the point of forming a single whole,” he explained.

“When Jesus went up onto the mountain, he immersed himself in the contemplation of the loving plan of the Father, who had sent him into the world to save humanity,” the Holy Father continued.

Pope Benedict urged the faithful “to find prolonged moments of silence, and of retreat if possible, during this season of Lent, in order to review (their) lives in the light of the heavenly Father's plan of love.”

“Let yourselves be guided in this more intense listening to God by the Virgin Mary, teacher and model of prayer,” Benedict XVI added. “Even in the deep darkness of the Passion of Christ, (Mary) did not lose, but instead preserved in her heart the light of her divine Son. For this reason, let us invoke her as Mother of trust and of hope.”

After the Marian prayer, the Pope prayed for all women and for their dignity and value. Citing pontifical documents, especially John Paul II's Apostolic Letter Mulieris Dignitatem, the Holy Father pointed out the importance of the testimony of female saints: “Our age has seen that [witness] of Mother Teresa of Calcutta: a humble daughter of Albania who became, by the grace of God, an example to the entire world in the exercise of charity and of service to human advancement.”

“How many other women,” he added, “work every day, in obscurity, for the good of humanity and for the Kingdom of God?”

Pope Benedict also asked for the “spiritual support of all” for his upcoming apostolic voyages.

“Next week,” he said, “from March 17 to 23, I will go to Africa, first to Cameroon and then to Angola, to demonstrate the concrete closeness of myself and of the Church to the Christians and populations of that continent which is particularly dear to me. Then, from May 18 to 25 I will make a pilgrimage to the Holy Land to ask the Lord, in visiting the places sanctified by his earthly passage, for the precious gift of unity and of peace for the Middle East and for all humanity."

http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/new.php?n=15309

Pope Benedict is pretty darn weak on his recognition of women.  Surely given their need for some positive pr about attitudes to women, he could have dedicated the entire talk to women!!! one half of humanity!!!!

Why  ask for an increase  in his hypocrisy?  Notice his Virgin Mary reference.  He insincerely trots that out every once in a while to try to appease women or women concerns.  He is  sadly consistent in his dismissive disregard for women in the church and women in the world.  His attitude and treatment of women bodes very badly for women and children, such disrespect for women encourages the abuse of women and children in the world.  The pope thus endangers women and children. 

From our friends in India....
 
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: 

IT’S “WOMEN’S DAY” ONCE AGAIN !
 
A time to reflect on where we are and how much more all of us should be doing to ensure that women have their rightful place in Church and in society.

A fitting first step will be to read, reflect and to implement this document which the Bishops of India have given us.

Let’s make a beginning today!

The ‘PRASHANT’ Parivar
Ahmedabad
March 8, 2009

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

28th General Body Meeting of Catholic Bishops Conference of India

EMPOWERMENT OF WOMEN IN THE CHURCH AND SOCIETY

Preamble

- As the Universal Church celebrates the 20th anniversary of the Apostolic Letter of Pope John Paul II , 'Mulieris Dignitatem', on the Dignity of Women, we, 160 Bishops, belonging to the 3 Individual sui juris Churches of the Catholic Communion in India, are gathered at XLRI in Jamshedpur, from 13th to 20th February 2008, for the 28th Plenary Assembly of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of India. The theme was the Empowerment of Women in the Church and Society. There were 40 lay and religious women and 7 lay men representing all the 12 ecclesiastical regions of the country as invitees for the meeting.

Already in 1984, there was a CBCI initiated Consultation on Women held in Mumbai, on the "Role of Women in the Church and Society". In 1992, the concerns of women were taken up again at the Plenary Assembly of the CBCI in Pune and consequently a Women's Desk was instituted with the appointment of the first Woman Secretary to the Office of the CBCI. In 1996, the Women's Desk was raised to the status of a Commission. While the Church and society undergo rapid changes, women are being marginalised and continue to suffer and since their concerns are not adequately addressed both in the Church and in society the Bishops thought it opportune to discuss this theme.

1. Situation of Women in the Church and Society in India -

The socio-cultural situation of women should not be understood in the same way among all social classes and ethnic groups especially among the marginalised and the oppressed. It has its lights and its shadows. Though we have examples of empowered women in leadership positions and role-models like Blessed Mother Theresa and Blessed Alphonsa, nevertheless the reality of women of all sections reveals instances of domestic and societal violence on young girls and women. Depending on the regions, female feticide, infanticide, rape, molestation, kidnapping, abduction, battering, dowry deaths, murdering, trafficking for sex and slavery exist even today.

Women of the marginalized groups such as dalits, tribals, backward castes and minorities suffer much due to poverty, ill-health, lack of access to literacy and appropriate knowledge and lack of hygiene and potable water.

In addition, they are being displaced from their lands and livelihoods. They suffer systemic and structural violence that enslave them and dehumanize them economically, socio-politically and religio-culturally.

Gender discrimination has negative effects on boys and men as well. It damages their psyche and increases the incidence of morbidity and crime among them. Relations of distrust, conflict, competition and many forms of subtle abuse emerge instead of those rooted in values of caring, sharing, compassion, mutual respect, collaboration and partnership. Such discrimination thus has negative consequences on human relations.

It was noticed that the structures which facilitate collaborative partnership between women and men as well as clergy and laity needs improvement. In 1992, the CBCI General Assembly stated, "with a sense of sorrow we must admit that the women feel discriminated against, even in the Church". In the decision-making and the consultative structures like the Parish Pastoral Council, Diocesan Pastoral Council, Diocesan Finance Committee which are canonically advocated structures in the Church, the presence of women is inadequate.

In spite of the great contribution of lay women in spheres of education, health care, etc., their potentials are yet to be sufficiently tapped in the administrative and executive roles, as well as theological, liturgical, pastoral and missionary apostolates of the Church.

2. An Analysis of the Causes -

The culture of domination, marginalization and exclusion which embodies ideas, beliefs, values, traditions, rules, norms, perspectives (ideologies) that prefer males/sons has been styled the culture of patriarchy. Through dominating social structures men own, control and manage financial, intellectual and ideological resources as well as the labor, fertility and sexuality of women, and thus perpetuate gender discrimination. Such a culture produces stereotyped notions of how a woman or man should behave (in words and actions), whereby they themselves become transmitters of the above value system. Consequently women also become both victims and victimizers.

The process of globalization which is market-centered and profit-driven, leads to further exploitation of women as cheap labour resulting in the increasing pauperization of women.

Fundamentalism and communalism reinforce the subjugation of women to men, suppress women's movements by dividing women along religious lines and intensify violence against women.

Lack of development and articulation of a spirituality rooted in women's experiences and insights into God, Mission, the Sacraments and the Scriptures have impoverished the Church. The interiority of women and the capacity to endure suffering are the areas that are not adequately capitalized in the building up of the Kingdom.( Letter to Women by John Paul II, 29th June, 1995)

3. Signs of Hope -

In the midst of this distressing situation there are signs of hope. The Church has been spearheading several initiatives to bring about positive changes in the life situation of women and girls. From the time of the early Christian missionaries who placed emphasis on the education of both girls and boys, through its multiple interventions in the fields of welfare, education, health and the empowerment process to organize women, the Catholic Church has played a prominent role to improve the status of women.

Besides the Church and ecumenical bodies, government and non-governmental organizations, trade unions and social movements have played a significant role in facilitating change. Through its policies, for example, the National Policy on the Empowerment of Women, and legislative measures, the Government has contributed to the cause of women. By signing international declarations and conventions such as Human Rights, Convention on Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) and Violence against Women, the Government of India has taken a stand in favour of gender justice.

As a result, many women leaders both lay and religious are emerging in the public sphere such as local governance and political leadership. The process of generation of counter-cultural literature and media material, and the revival of subjugated memories of resistance by women against oppression and exploitation are influencing change in mindsets of people to a greater or lesser extent across space and culture. The promotion of appropriate ecclesiastical ministries among women in the Church is another sign of their participation in the mission of the Church.

4. The Vision of Christ -

Situating the teachings and actions of Christ in the context of Palestinian Judaism, we see how the evangelists not only highlight Jesus' concern for women, but also his radical re-defining of their place and role in their society. In a culture where women were seen only in relation to men, Christ not only liberated them from their oppressive traditions but upheld their dignity e.g. the Samaritan woman (Jn.4:7-42) and Mary and Martha (Jn.11:20-40 ). He used the life-experiences of women as a paradigm of God's love and Christian discipleship for all: woman and lost coin, woman and the dough and woman at birth pangs. Even at his death and burial, women were among those who bore testimony. Jesus entrusted to the women that they announce the Good News of Resurrection to his disciples.

St. Paul reiterates the equality of men and women (Gal.3:28) and continues to refer to many exemplary women. The early Christian Community was sustained by the deep faith of women who shared in the apostolic ministry e.g. Priscilla, Lydia, Phoebe, etc.

In her teaching, the Church continues to uphold the dignity of women, uniqueness of motherhood (Letter to Women, 2), and the complementarity and reciprocity between men and women. To this day, the Church continues to witness the heroic character of women in their testimony to their faith even at the moment of persecution as in the cases of Sr. Rani Maria in Madhya Pradesh, Mrs. Graham Steins in Orissa, as well as the women and men of Rajasthan, Gujarat, Chattisgarh and now again in Orissa.

5. Commitment to Action -

Taking into consideration all the recommendations arrived at during the process of discussion at the Plenary Assembly, it is necessary to mobilise our collective efforts towards elimination of the root causes of discrimination against women. Accordingly we commit ourselves as a body to evolve within a period of one year from now, a gender policy developed by each Regional Bishops' Conference with time bound action plans for their region with monitoring mechanisms. Basing on these, the CBCI Gender Policy will emerge. The Women's Commission of CBCI will give general guidance and norms for developing such policy, if required.

The following areas call for our immediate action:

i. Impart skills for effective parenting through Family Education programmes and Marriage Preparation Courses, keeping in mind the need to overcome the cultural bias against the girl child and sexual stereotypes.

ii. Encourage family-oriented movements like 'Marriage Encounter', 'Teams of Our Lady', and 'Couples for Christ' to promote the fundamental equality of husband and wife as both a gift and a right deriving from God, the Creator

iii. Incorporate a gender perspective in all the Commissions of the Church and foster networking to further the goal of a gender-just Church and society,

iv. Provide theological, biblical and canonical studies that promote gender justice and an ecclesiology of partnership;

v. Provide scholarships and part-time courses for women for theological, biblical and canonical studies.

vi.  Provide opportunities for theologically-trained women to contribute as pastoral workers, researchers, faith formators, professors in theologates and spiritual counsellors.

vii. Prepare audio- visual material as an effective tool for gender sensitisation.

viii. Offer at least 35% (moving towards an ideal of 50%) representation of women as office- bearers and members on parish and diocesan pastoral councils, and finance committees and in the ecclesial bodies at the local and national levels.

ix. Affirm the pastoral work of women –lay and religious- as catechists, lectors, and animators of Basic/Small Christian Communities, counsellors, liturgists and community workers through the recognition of these as ministries.

x. Work towards a commitment for the uplift of the tribal, dalit and disadvantaged women, including their education and opportunities for employment in Church institutions.

xi. Take concerted efforts to address the needs of migrants and domestic workers, and keep fighting against the trafficking of women and children.

xii. Help women emotionally and legally through the canonical processes of separation of bed and board and annulment.

xiii. Support women in their process of political leadership for Panchayat, Legislative Assembly and Parliament
Towards this end, we seek to join hands with the Central and State governments, civil society organizations, and other religious groups to safeguard the rights and freedom of all, especially women, irrespective of caste, creed, and vocation. We desire to strengthen institutional mechanisms with adequate personnel and finances at all levels of the Church to inspire, motivate, coordinate and monitor the process and results of execution of the gender policy.

6. Conclusion -

The Church, as the sacrament of Christ, has been entrusted with the mission of proclaiming the good news of the Kingdom of God. This she has consistently done in the face of the concrete challenges with which she has been confronted. One such challenge has been the issue of the dignity and role of women in the Church and society.

We conclude this Statement with our thoughts centred on the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God and our mother; "therefore the fullness of grace that was granted, with a view to the fact that she would become Theotokos, also signifies the fullness of the perfection of 'what is characteristic of woman', of 'what is feminine'.

Here we find ourselves, in a sense, at the culminating point, the archetype, of the personal dignity of women." (MD 5). May Mary, our Mother, model and guide, lead us to be authentic disciples of her Son, in realizing His Kingdom in the context of our beloved motherland India.


February 20, 2008

Washing Machine Brought Rights to Women: Vatican
The Calgary Herald
March 8, 2009

AFP VATICAN CITY -- The washing machine has had a greater liberating role for women than the pill, the official Vatican daily said in an International Women's Day commentary Sunday.

"The washing machine and the emancipation of women: put in the powder, close the lid and relax," said the headline on the article in Osservatore Romano.

"In the 20th cenutry, what contributed most to the emancipation of western women?" questioned the article.

"The debate is still open. Some say it was the pill, others the liberalisation of abortion, or being able to work outside the home. Others go even further: the washing machine," it added.

The long eulogy to the washing machine - for which the first rudimentary models appeared in the 18th century - highlighted "the sublime mystique to being able to 'change the sheets on the beds twice a week instead of once'," quoting the words of late American feminist Betty Friedan.

While the machines were at first unreliable, technology has developed so quickly that now there is "the image of the super woman, smiling, made up and radiant among the appliances of her house," wrote Osservatore.

http://www.calgaryh erald.com/ Technology/ Washing+machine+ brought+rights+ women+Vatican/ 1367509/story. html

International Women's Day (IWD) is marked on March 8 every year. It is a major day of global celebration for the economic, political and social achievements of women.

Started as a political event, the holiday blended in the culture of many countries (primarily Russia and the countries of former Soviet bloc).

In some celebrations, the day lost its political flavour, and became simply an occasion for men to express their love to the women around them in a way somewhat similar to Mother's Day and Saint Valentine's Day mixed together. In others, however, the political and human rights theme as designated by the United Nations runs strong, and political and social awareness of the struggles of women worldwide are brought out and examined in a hopeful manner.

History


March 8 rally in Dhaka, Bangladesh

The first IWD was observed on February 28, 1909 in the United States following a declaration by the Socialist Party of America. Among other relevant historic events, it commemorates the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire (New York, 1911), where over 140 women lost their lives.

The idea of having an international women's day was first put forward at the turn of the twentieth century amid rapid world industrialization and economic expansion that led to protests over working conditions. By urban legend, women from clothing and textile factories staged one such protest on March 8, 1857 in New York City. The garment workers were protesting against very poor working conditions and low wages. The protesters were attacked and dispersed by police. These women established their first labour union in the same month two years later.

More protests followed on 8 March in subsequent years, most notably in 1980 when 15,000 women marched through New York City demanding shorter hours, better pay and voting rights. In 1910 the first international women's conference was held in Copenhagen (in the labour-movement building located at Jagtvej 69, which until recently housed Ungdomshuset) by the Second International and an 'International Women's Day' was established, which was submitted by the important German Socialist Clara Zetkin. The following year, IWD was marked by over a million people in Austria, Denmark, Germany and Switzerland.

However, soon thereafter, the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire in New York City killed over 140 garment workers. A lack of safety measures was blamed for the high death toll. Furthermore, on the eve of World War I, women across Europe held peace rallies on March 8, 1913. In the West, International Women's Day was commemorated during the 1910s and 1920s, but dwindled. It was revived by the rise of feminism in the 1960s.

Demonstrations marking International Women's Day in Russia proved to be the first stage of the Russian Revolution of 1917.

Following the October Revolution, the Bolshevik feminist Alexandra Kollontai persuaded Lenin to make it an official holiday in Russia, and it was established, but was a working day until 1965. On May 8, 1965 by the decree of the USSR Presidium of the Supreme Soviet International Women's Day was declared as a non working day in the USSR "in commemoration of outstanding merits of the Soviet women in communistic construction, in the defense of their Motherland during the Great Patriotic War, their heroism and selflessness at the front and in rear, and also marking the big contribution of women to strengthening friendship between peoples and struggle for the peace."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Women%27s_Day

A Brief History of International Women's Day
 
The idea of an International Women's Day first arose at the turn of the century, which in the industrialized world was a period of expansion and turbulence, booming population growth and radical ideologies.
 
On 8 March 1857, women working in clothing and textile factories (called 'garment workers') in New York City, in the United States, staged a protest. They were fighting against inhumane working conditions and low wages. The police attacked the protestors and dispersed them. Two years later, again in March, these women formed their first labour union to try and protect themselves and gain some basic rights in the workplace.
 
On 8 March 1908, 15,000 women marched through New York City demanding shorter work hours, better pay, voting rights and an end to child labour. They adopted the slogan "Bread and Roses", with bread symbolizing economic security and roses a better quality of life. In May, the Socialist Party of America designated the last Sunday in February for the observance of National Women's Day.
 
Following the declaration of the Socialist Party of America, the first ever National Woman's Day was celebrated in the United States on 28 February 1909. Women continued to celebrate it on the last Sunday of that month through 1913.
 
An international conference, held by socialist organizations from around the world, met in Copenhagen, Denmark, in 1910. The conference of the Socialist International proposed a Women's Day which was designed to be international in character. The proposal initially came from Clara Zetkin, a German socialist, who suggested an International Day to mark the strike of garment workers in the United States. The proposal was greeted with unanimous approval by the conference of over 100 women from 17 countries, including the first three women elected to the parliament of Finland. The Day was established to honour the movement for women's rights, including the right to vote (known as 'suffrage'). At that time no fixed date was selected for the observance.
 
The declaration of the Socialist International had an impact. The following year, 1911, International Women's Day was marked for the first time in Austria, Denmark, Germany and Switzerland. The date was March 19 and over a million men and women took to the streets in a series of rallies. In addition to the right to vote and to hold public office, they demanded the right to work and an end to discrimination on the job.
 
Less than a week later, on 25 March, the tragic Triangle Fire in New York City took place. Over 140 workers, mostly young Italian and Jewish immigrant girls working at the Triangle Shirtwaist Company, lost their lives because of the lack of safety measures. The Women's Trade Union League and the International Ladies' Garment Workers Union led many of the protests against this avoidable tragedy, including the silent funeral march which brought together a crowd of over 100,000 people. The Triangle Fire had a significant impact on labour legislation and the horrible working conditions leading up to the disaster were invoked during subsequent observances of International Women's Day.
 
As part of the peace movement brewing on the eve of World War I, Russian women observed their first International Women's Day on the last Sunday in February 1913. Elsewhere in Europe, on or around 8 March of the following year, women held rallies either to protest the war or to express solidarity with their sisters.
 
With 2 million Russian soldiers dead in the war, Russian women again chose the last Sunday in February 1917 to strike for "bread and peace". Political leaders opposed the timing of the strike, but the women went on anyway.
 
The rest is history: Four days later the Czar of Russia was forced to abdicate and the provisional Government granted women the right to vote. That historic Sunday fell on 23 February on the Julian calendar then in use in Russia, but coincided with 8 March on the Gregorian calendar used by people elsewhere.
 
Since those early years, International Women's Day has assumed a new global dimension for women in developed and developing countries alike.
 
In December 1977 the UN General Assembly adopted a resolution proclaiming a United Nations Day for Women's Rights and International Peace. Four global United Nations women's conferences have helped make the demand for women's rights and participation in the political and economic process a growing reality.

In 1975 the UN drew global attention to women's concerns by calling for an International Women's year and convening the first conference on women in Mexico City. Another convention was held in Copenhagen, Denmark in 1980.

In 1985, the UN convened a third conference on women in Nairobi, Kenya, to look at what had been achieved at the end of the decade.


 
In 1995, Beijing hosted the Fourth World Conference on Women.
 
Representatives from 189 different countries agreed that inequalities between women and men has serious consequences for the well-being of all people. The conference declared a set of goals for progress of women in various areas including politics, health, and education. The final document issued by the conference (called the "Platform for Action") had this to say: "The advancement of women and the achievement of equality between women and men are a matter of human rights and a condition for social justice and should not be seen in isolation as a women's issue."

Five years later, in a 23rd special session of the United Nations General Assembly, "Women 2000: Gender Equality, Development and Peace for the 21st Century" reviewed the progress the world has made towards achieving the goals set out by the Beijing conference. This conference has come to be known as the "Beijing +5" conference. Delegates found both progress and perservering obstacles. The delegates made further agreements to continue carrying out the initiatives of the 1995 women's conference.

http://www0.un.org/cyberschoolbus/womensday/pages/how_content_1.asp

Why dedicate a day exclusively to the celebration of the world's women?
 
The United Nations General Assembly, composed of delegates from every Member State, celebrates International Women's Day to recognize that peace and social progress require the active participation and equality of women, and to acknowledge the contribution of women to international peace and security.
 
For the women of the world, the Day is an occasion to review how far they have come in their struggle for equality, peace and development.
 

 
You might think that women's equality benefits mostly women, but every one-percentile growth in female secondary schooling results in a 0.3 percent growth in the economy. Yet girls are often kept from receiving education in the poorest countries that would best benefit from the economic growth.
 
Until the men and women work together to secure the rights and full potential of women, lasting solutions to the world's most serious social, economic and political problems are unlikely to be found.
 
In recent decades, much progress has been made. On a worldwide level, women's access to education and proper health care has increased; their participation in the paid labor force has grown; and legislation that promises equal opportunities for women and respect for their human rights has been adopted in many countries. The world now has an ever- growing number of women participating in society as policy-makers.
 
However, nowhere in the world can women claim to have all the same rights and opportunities as men.
 
The majority of the world's 1.3 billion absolute poor are women. On average, women receive between 30 and 40 per cent less pay than men earn for the same work.
 
And everywhere, women continue to be victims of violence, with rape and domestic violence listed as significant causes of disability and death among women of reproductive age worldwide.

http://www0.un.org/cyberschoolbus/womensday/pages/why_content.asp

On March 8 in 1911 - International Women's Day is launched in Copenhagen, Denmark by Clara Zetkin, leader of the Women's Office for the Social Democratic Party in Germany.
 

Clara Zetkin and Rosa Luxemburg, 1910
 
Clara Zetkin, maiden name Eissner (July 5, 1857 - June 20, 1933) was an influential socialist German politician and a fighter for women's rights.

In 1910 the first international women's conference was held in Copenhagen (in the labour-movement building located at Jagtvej 69, which until recently housed Ungdomshuset) by the Second International and an 'International Women's Day' was established, which was submitted by Clara Zetkin.