Our role as Women in The Church

[@dentellier]

Cameron, you've been such a role model to me during this past year. I just became Catholic at the Easter Vigil. As a single, childless, 42 year old woman, I have am struggling to find ways that I can define my role as a woman of the church. Convos like these are very helpful!

[@cfradd]

Welcome!! I’m glad this chat blessed you

[@eva-mariacoughlin9456]

We have seasons in ministry, first season family, second season the world! At least for me, I work in Burma since 28 years, Catholics and others! Traveling several times a year! You never do it for your glory! ALL Glory goes to God…. For ALL things come from HIM and ALL things are going to HIM !

[@alimaloney218]

Good Morning, Cameron and Dr. Westerhorstmann, from Rockford, Illinois.

[@sw6155]

0:41 lol! What a timing… 😂😂 She said “young moms covered in goo” or something right as I was picking up my 2yo so she doesn’t oversleep… 🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@marielouise3187]

Yiu had an interesting guest, really. And it was fun to see: who is interviewing who.😄

[@eva-mariacoughlin9456]

I am German too! I was never told about receiving Jesus in Germany ! I was brought up Catholic. When I came to America I finally received Jesus through a charismatic prayer group in the 70‘s in Vermont. Came to the mid west and found total rejection and went to an inter denominational church. I was received kindly. Now I am still in an interdenominational church. As many times I tried to get back to the Catholic way I been rebuked with unkindness.

[@cfradd]

I'm so sorry that's been your experience. Keep trying, if you can get a good parish it will help!

[@sw6155]

I have a hard time understanding this language: “women should be allowed more prominent role in the church”… I was born in the 80s in Brazil so I can’t speak for pre Vatican II… But all my life women played an invaluable role in church… From maintaining it clean and tidy to catechism classes, to consecrated life of nuns… Men and women, as distinct as they are naturally, had each their respective roles that were of equal importance to the Holy Church…

[@fddooley1]

As a woman who lived through major church change (78 years), my first thought in reply to your question is that in my case perspective was gained over time. I studied theology in an Anglican seminary as a practising Catholic, where I respected the intention & scholarship & observed women in preparation for parish leadership. Maybe my formation in my young years with the Sisters of Mercy or/and realisation of my tendency to pride has influenced my attitude to live love with care as the expression of my Catholicism. I often joked that I didn't want to be Pope but I had the dress to suit the occasion.

[@sw6155]

@@fddooley1 Wow, interesting… Thank you for your testimony 👍 I hope you don’t mind me asking, but why did you go to an Anglican Seminary to study theology?! No Catholic options in UK (assuming you were in UK, since in US they’re usually called Episcopalians)?

[@fddooley1]

@sw6155 I am an Australian 3rd generation born from Irish ancestors. Both sides of my family emigrated due to Irish poverty after the potato famine. I attempted to enrol at the Catholic university in Sydney, but I was not accepted. Hence, my only option was to enrol in the Batchelor of theology via distance education at St. Marks Anglican theological college in Canberra A.C.T. Australia. Residential workshops, etc. involved an 8 hour drive from my home. It was a difficult process in many ways, particularly the lack of discussion with fellow students. Six years later (life intervened frequently, eg, family death, illness, etc.). I couldn't see the point wading into Greek & Hebrew because experts had translated these texts (I would just make a muddle mess 😉). I majored in pastoral care and used my clinical experience in hospital & aged care visitation. A satisfying aspect was my start-up workshops using the Boundaries program of Cloud & Townsend. These workshops focussed on domestic abuse and were well received. Additionally, my interest in human behaviour resulted in crisis counselling with Lifeline ( telephone suicide counselling). I unexpectedly was selected at 72 for Catholic care of the aged as part of the pastoral team attending hostels and nursing homes. Unfortunately, Covid intervened & bronchial pneumonia ended my work. It's a long story, but I love the mystery of God's intervention, and I consider coincidences are part of God's plan. Blessings to you 🙏

[@mrsronireyes8416]

Papacy not your business

[@sw6155]

@@fddooley1 wow! Amazing body of work! Thank you so much for all that you’ve done, and for sharing! God bless you! 😘👍

[@mrsronireyes8416]

You look good Cameron..

[@cfradd]

thank you, I was feeling great!

[@sw6155]

I think we should spend less time questioning why/why not women need “more prominent roles” and do a better job at making it clear we’ve always had prominent roles, there’s more to spiritual life of the church than deacons, priests, bishops and cardinals… Let’s not concede language and premises… I probably don’t make sense, but I feel we do a bad job at saying: stop mischaracterizing the church and its history! I won’t indulge your false premises about the Holy Church and the role of women in it through millennia!

[@karic.1743]

I completely agree with you. I’m of Mexican and French descent and the Catholic women in my family since I ‘ve had recollection they cleaned the churches and made food to collect funds for the church, they were part of the choir, they held rosary prayers, they went to the homes of the sick with the priest to give them homily at home and communion (I used to go with my aunt). One of my aunts was part of the administration of the church, they’re theologians and they believe that the men should have a more prominent role that of a priest, deacon, bishop etc.

[@aane-wc6uk]

German women don't think in the church we need to serve. They want to be bosses. They call God, Father and Mother!! Or say that God is transgender, G*D, or God+. What is now happening in Germany has nothing to do with catholic belief.

[@JosephOstermeir]

We need nuns again running Catholic schools and hospitals dressed in full habit. Not running parishes.

[@aane-wc6uk]

"Sevents Heart" ♥ is something that the women in Germany don't recognise at all

[@aane-wc6uk]

😂 😂 😂 How frosen was German lady when she heard "mummy and wife" cold, cold German women.

[@JosephOstermeir]

What

[@janeldryan7466]

I felt a bit uncomfortable with the discussion about the role of women in leadership. My parish is run by many women in the background who have no interest in any attention. It is also attended by many women who are wives and mothers focused on really challenging work raising faithful children. Women in holy orders attend as well and teach our children at our school. Women who are learned scholars help other women grow closer to Christ as women so that we can fulfill our vocation as faithful Catholics. I think all the above seems like a huge role. Why should we look for new avenues? I know the discussion concluded with a no to women looking towards leadership and power but it felt odd even entertaining the thought.