Mystery Quote Quiz of the Week (by Ryan Rodrick Beiler)
Who said:
"There still persists a macho mentality that ignores the novelty of Christianity, which recognizes and proclaims the equal dignity and responsibility of women with respect to men. There are certain places and cultures where women are discriminated against and undervalued just for the fact that they are women. In the face of such grave and persistent phenomena the commitment of Christians appears all the more urgent, so that they become everywhere the promoters of a culture that recognizes the dignity that belongs to women in law and in reality."
Was it:
a) Hillary Clinton
b) Jimmy Carter
c) Katharine Jefferts Schori
d) Pope Benedict XVI
e) Billy Graham
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Comments
This time, the Pope really must have been speaking "Ex Cathedra!"
Despite the hierarchical, somewhat patriarchical, non-universal-priesthood-of-believers structure of his church... this "conservative" is sounding quite "liberal."
Posted by: Sojourner Truth | February 15, 2008 1:42 PM
The Lord of the Church is still Lord of the Roman Catholic communion, isn't He?
Posted by: Ted Voth Jr | February 15, 2008 4:33 PM
Sojourner, either that, or true conservatism is not understood by everyone with a more liberal persuasion. I have been guilty of wearing the "conservative" moniker all my adult life, and the statement quoted represents my understanding completely.
Posted by: joekc | February 15, 2008 4:40 PM
Sojourner,
Let me echo joekc. From my conservative worldview the Pope is stating what I understand as a Christian viewpoint. Often times we conservatives don't resemble the stereotypes.
Jeff
Posted by: Jeff | February 15, 2008 5:15 PM
I guessed the Pope, and I agree with the statement.
I think it was intended to be a big surprise that he said this. But it is only surprising if you project certain common assumptions onto his words.
But the Pope likely did not bring those assumptions to the table. He wasn't advocating abortion rights, Title IX, or women in the priesthood. He was merely addressing sexism within the church as one of the many sins that ought not be tolerated.
Posted by: kevin s. | February 16, 2008 1:19 PM
I also guessed that it was the Pope, but had a sneaking suspicion the quote was taken somewhat out of context if not read as part of the whole speech/document, which proved to be true. While I agree with some of what the Pope says, and certainly the sentiment of the quote, he nevertheless goes on to reinforce sterotypical gender roles that exclude the possibility of God endowing women or men with certain gifts and graces more commmonly associated with the "complementary" gender. To continue to maintain this posture in light of modern genetic research, and the expericne of many in the Protestant communions that ordain women, is no different than continuuing to maintain that the earth is center of God's universe. The Pope certainly may proclaim it is so, but that does not make it so. My experience of women clergy is that they are very often more gifted and graced for ordained ministry than their male counteparts, which may help to explain why so many male clerics are deathly afraid of their full inclusion in the ministry of the church.
Posted by: David | February 18, 2008 3:52 PM
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