Sir, - Rosemary Swords (Opinion, July 2nd) opens up an interesting discussion on renewal in the church. She mentions a new body called Focolare, which encourages the growth and exercise of lay ministries. She feels the campaign for women priests slows down their development.
She does not specify what these ministries might be, but one would imagine they will not greatly disturb ecclesiastical repose, since it appears that three cardinals addressed the Focolare conference! I hope at least they are more than re-runs of "The New Dawn of the Parish Sandwich" or Creative Thinking on the Ironing of Clerical Linen"!
Once again she trots out the model of 12 male apostles, like Horsemen of the Apocalypse, to shut down any idea that women could be called to the priesthood. Why is she so eager to do this? Could we give the 12 male apostles a break and begin to explore some other possibilities?
I wonder if Jesus, who was bound by the historical realities of His time, could have left open the option to His Church of ordaining women when it was practical and necessary to do so. And could one also speculate that a Church whose tradition and writing has been largely controlled by men has gradually lost sight of a priesthood as valid as that of the 12 apostles? I think, for example of the sacrifice of Mary, at the cross, participating fully in offering up her only son in a dreadful and shameful death, of Mary Magdalen commissioned as the Apostle of the Resurrection and the Samaritan woman similarly commissioned to bring the Good News to her own community. This priesthood might possibly have something to offer.
I wonder if Rosemary Swords has ever met women, both Protestant and Roman Catholic, of many races and nationalities, who genuinely believe they are called by God to serve in the ordained ministry. I was fortunate enough to encounter some of them at the Woman's Ordination Worldwide conference last weekend. Maybe they are all deluded and should be quietly carted off to be ideologically remoulded.
However if Jesus, the Living One, is indeed calling them to his service as priests, the Vatican is wasting its time. It can easily intimidate vulnerable religious men and women, but intimidating the Holy Spirit may prove more difficult. - Yours, etc.,
Mrs Elizabeth Roddy, Corcullen, Galway.