Denver Catholic

ico City Denver ver, e pro- ince, St. suit OPINION I 5 DENVER CATHOLIC REGISTER I AUGUST 28, 2013 GENERAL MANAGER'S COLUMN KARNA SWANSON Pope opens new door for women Last month, Pope Francis slammed the door, again, on the ordination of women to the priesthood. Just as Pope Benedict XVI did before him, and just as Blessed John Paul II did before him, and just as many other popes and theologians did before both of them. Let's just say, that must be one sturdy door. The question of women and the priesthood has been discussed and settled so many times in the last half-century, one can't help but wonder how the door hasn't just fallen off altogether. Perhaps it's really true what Alexander Graham Bell said: "When one door closes, another door opens; but we so often look so long and regretfully upon the closed door, that we do not see the ones which open for us." One can only hope Pope Francis managed to lock the door for good on the question of women priests, and maybe we can stop looking longingly upon the ordination of women to the priesthood and begin paying more attention to the hundreds and hundreds of other doors and opportunities that are now opening up for women in the Church. Since the Second Vatican Council, which took place at a time in which women were beginning to take on broader and more varied roles in society, the Church began to reflect more deeply than ever before on the role and vocation of the woman. In fact, the closing message of the council said women "imbued with a spirit of the Gospel" could "do so much to aid humanity in not falling." Unfortunately, as Pope Francis noted in his comments on the ordination of women, much of the consideration of the role of women in the Church since Vatican II has focused on the more superficial questions regarding what women can and cannot do (can they read at Mass, distribute Communion, be ordained priests), without tackling the much more difficult questions regarding the dignity and vocation of women. Almost 50 years later, and in the words of Pope Francis, "we still lack a profound theology of woman." This isn't to say, however, that nothing has been accomplished. In fact, even though women aren't celebrating Mass and presiding at weddings, they are contributing every day in new and significant ways to the life of the Church that are unprecedented in its 2,000-year history. And then there is Pope John Paul II, who has arguably contributed more than anyone else to the consideration of the dignity and vocation of women. This month, we celebrate the 25th anniversary of his publication of the most pivotal reflection to date on women with his apostolic letter "Mulieris Dignitatem" ("On the Dignity and Vocation of Women"). The letter touches on some weighty theological and anthropological questions, including "the reasons for and consequences of the Creator's decision" that the human being exists as male and female. John Paul II reminds us that if we want to understand the role of women in society and in the Church, we have to first consider and reflect on God's plan for humanity in general, and for women in particular. In the letter, the pope offers a guided meditation on Mary, and her role as the mother of God, on Eve and the fall of man, on the relationship between Jesus and the various women in the Gospels—on their radical witness of faith. He proposes a deeper consideration of the "feminine genius," on the gifts and qualities of women, and on motherhood and the particular role women play in the generation of new life. Finally, he talks of the "great mystery" of the Church as the Bride of Christ, and of the primacy of the woman in the order of love. There are lots of criticisms, and many more conspiracy theories, surrounding any attempt to delve more deeply into "a theology of women." Some ask why the Church is focusing so much on women, and ignoring "a theology of man"; others assert this "theology of women" is an attempt to undermine the priesthood, or to force the Church to ordain women. Those critics miss the entire point. A deeper "theology of women" seeks to understand God's plan for women, not to thwart it. And when a woman is more aware of who she is, and what God is asking of her, the entire Church, and the entire world, benefits. We have been told by pope after pope that the role of women in the Church has not yet been fully understood or realized. The Second Vatican Council has placed the burden of "aiding a falling humanity" into the hands of women. The development of the "theology of women" is not an option; it's an urgent need. The future of the Church depends on it. Karna Swanson is director of the Denver Archdiocese's Communications Office and general manager of the Denver Catholic Register. Contact her at 303-715-3230 or karna.swanson@archden.org. J E SU IT 2013 ED UC A T IO N J E S U I T EX C E L L E N C E JESUIT EXCELLENCE TOUR DAY Thursday DATE September 5, 2013 TIME 6-8 p.m. PLACE Denver Marriott Tech Center 4900 S. Syracuse Street Denver, CO 80237 Hotel parking validation available at college fair registration table WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU SOON REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE JESUIT COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES LISTED TO THE RIGHT WILL BE VISITING TO SPEAK WITH STUDENTS. 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