Women in the Contemporary Church

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Women in the Contemporary Church
The status of women within the Catholic Church is often deemed a controversial topic. In particular, the position of females in the contemporary Roman Catholic Church is an interesting notion to consider. By considering the roles of women today in the Roman Catholic Church, this essay will analyse the trends and difficulties regarding women and describe the necessary steps to take to advance steps to equality. Furthermore, official teachings of the Roman Catholic Church will be referenced. Upon concluding this essay, it will be obvious that the challenge in the contemporary Roman Catholic Church is to reclaim a rightful status for women by recognising their value as equal members of their community.

There are many different roles that women in the Catholic Church play today. These positions they undertake vary, from working in the parish office, to teaching religious education. Many parishes have nuns or religious sisters who work as pastoral associates, helping with many spiritual or pastoral duties. Catholic women can be readers at Mass, laypersons who assist the priest to give out Holy Communion and parishioners to administer Eucharist. Sister Maureen states that women are represented as the mothers, the carers, they are the glue that keep things together, it can be seen in everyday life where women keep everything together, keep it moving. Furthermore in an interview with Estelle Graham this argument is elaborated when she says, ’women also have a different way of thinking, due to us having more of a motherly instinct which can help more people’. It is also evident in, Paul's New Testament epistle to Titus that women are the teachers and this epistle contains instruction concerning Titus need...

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... for others.’ (www.opw.catholic.org) Self-giving is a trait of the human race as a whole, and it is one that women incarnate in their gift of self and in their care for others.

Although females in the Catholic Church carry out a number of important roles within their religious community, there are issues of equality still present. For example, women are not able to be ordained or even be able to vote for the election of a new Pope. By enforcing equality, every person will be satisfied and the risk of people rebelling against the Church is minimised. Furthermore, giving females even more roles will positively change the thoughts of other Christian denominations. It is evident that there are equality issues in the status of women in the Catholic Church, and it is of high importance that they should be able to advance as members of the Christian Community.

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