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Thomas Aquinas was the most influential
theologian in the Middle Ages. Most later theologians copied their arguments
from him.
In Thomas’ time women were excluded from the ordained
ministries. Thomas had to find justification for this as a theologian. The main
reason, he decided, was woman’s inferior nature.
Thomas based his reasonings on what people
knew at the time. They believed that only the male seed carried life. They
judged women as having less intelligence and being weak in character. On this
page we outline Thomas’s teaching. To read the exact words of Thomas,
click on the links indicated!
For an analysis of the validity of Thomas’s arguments,
click here!
Creation
God created MAN first
making him the origin
of the rest
of humanity.
God created
WOMAN
out of man and for man.
God created MAN in his own image
in the full sense of the
term
since God is the source of everything.
God created
WOMAN in his image
only to the extent that she too has a mind.
Differences at Birth
The active force in the male seed derives
its power also from the stars.
A MAN’s seed contains the future
child.
In
procreation, a WOMAN only contributes her womb
- which is like a
ploughed field in which a grain of seed has been sown. The woman feeds the
foetus.
When a MALE child is born
the birth is
perfect.
Every FEMALE
child is born through an ‘accident’.
‘The semen is weak
or the material [in the womb] is unsuitable, or because of the action of some
external factor such as the winds from the south which make the atmosphere
humid.’
But in
God’s overall plan women do serve a purpose.
They are useful for
generation. After all, in his providence, God can even make use of
‘accidents’.
Strictly
speaking, every WOMAN is a ‘monster’ of nature.
The female
sexual organs too will rise at the resurrection.
For resurrection
repairs the defects of nature.
Other Gender Differences
MAN has the greater power of
reason.
Because God ordered [= streamlined] him for intellectual
activity.
WOMEN are
not ordered to intellectual operation.
Though a WOMAN is carnally united
to a man in generation, she is not united to him in his higher
faculties.
That is why
St. Paul forbade women to teach or to have authority over men.
A MAN naturally commands
authority.
WOMEN are
subject to men.
For man is the beginning and end of WOMAN.
Even a
WOMAN’s hair is a sign of her subjection to man.
God made
WOMAN a helper to man, but only for generation, not for a man’s other
tasks.
Representing Christ
MAN is in a state of
perfection.
MEN signify eminence in
human nature.
WOMAN is in
a state of subjection.
The FEMALE SEX cannot ‘signify eminence of
degree’ [= women cannot be the expression of perfect human
nature].
Therefore, it is MEN who can represent
Christ at the Eucharist.
Therefore,
WOMEN cannot represent Christ at the Eucharist.
John Wijngaards
Documents on St. Thomas Aquinas
Women and
procreation
Inferiority of
women
Arguments
Overview
The priest as
sign
Women and holy
orders
If Thomas had
known
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