machismo in the Catholic Church

[olivarescoco]

Some traditions of the Catholic Church reflect a rather narrow focus on gender roles. For example, I don't understand why women can't be priests. To me, it seems like a tradition that comes more from a patriarchal system than from anything truly spiritual. And of course, while I also recognize that figures like the Virgin Mary have a special role within the Church, I don't know if that really balances the scales.

[Hispo]

Some traditions of the Catholic Church reflect a rather narrow focus on gender roles. For example, I don't understand why women can't be priests. To me, it seems like a tradition that comes more from a patriarchal system than from anything truly spiritual. And of course, while I also recognize that figures like the Virgin Mary have a special role within the Church, I don't know if that really balances the scales.

I am from a very Catholic country and also, I have family members who are catholic. I could way I live in a rather Catholic society with some churches which are evangelist and a muslin minority.

It is a no-brainer, actually, the Catholic Church as an institution is quite old and comes from times in which there was more oppression against women and less equality for women to express themselves and manage their own lives, it is a traditionalist institution and a conservative one. So It is normal for them not to touch what it is not broken in their eyes.

There are other Christian Churches which are more open-minded and willing to allow women to be priests, even allow homosexual people to attend to their services, it depends on the branch and church itself.

[uneng]

Are there women imam in Muslim religion? Are there women rabbi in Judaism? Why are you concerned exclusively regards Catholicism, while there are many religions and cults following the same pattern?

If you aren't in agreement with the concepts, rules, roles and teachings of the religion, it's up to you to not get involved with them. You have free will available to follow what you believe to make sense for you.

At same time, people have their right to seek a more traditional concept of religion without worrying about artificially balancing any scales.

[Ucy]

The tradition of excluding women from priesthood is actually Biblical. Priests are basically the Leaders of the church or like a father is to the family, but women can be evangelists, prophets(prophetess), etc.  I believe the catholics are guided by the Christian Bible in that aspect, not because of machismo as you put it. Ofcourse, the adoration or honoration of Mary and their female saints is a testament to this. But whatever a church chooses to follow or practice has to be biblical (constitutional) otherwise she becomes like a sheep going astray

[Roseline492]

Some traditions of the Catholic Church reflect a rather narrow focus on gender roles. For example, I don't understand why women can't be priests. To me, it seems like a tradition that comes more from a patriarchal system than from anything truly spiritual. And of course, while I also recognize that figures like the Virgin Mary have a special role within the Church, I don't know if that really balances the scales.

There are things we cannot explain why is like that because we all came and see it that way, however I don't feel there inability to allow women to become a priest is a reason of gender inequality because this is something that has been with them from the beginning, however in the presence of God it doesn't matter who is the priest or who is supposed to but what matters is your communication with God and also how the world is being distributed to everyone, so actually church is not a country were people wants to be recognized and also giving power to rule, so don't be too inquisitive about Catholic Church  doctrine about women priest.

[robelneo]

Are there women imam in Muslim religion? Are there women rabbi in Judaism? Why are you concerned exclusively regards Catholicism, while there are many religions and cults following the same pattern?

I also wonder why OP is pinning the Catholic Church. Is it because it's popular? There are other popular religions, and they have the same traditions as the Catholic. This is their teaching its not right to accuse them just because its not in a line with what you believe in.
We have to respect tradition and teachings of religions; it's a delicate issue that we should not question if it's not harming anyone.

[Ucy]

*A true church should be transparent and open to questioning. She is the light, and it's only a dark entity who hates light that despises scrutiny because its deeds are evil. However, the questions should be respectful.
Even Abraham questioned GOD when HE decided to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah, and GOD willingly answered all the questions until Abraham was satisfied.

[Odusko]

It's no longer new that there have been gender wars for time immemorial this has eaten deep into some or all religions around the world with most placing limits on the ability of the female gender not allowing them to take part or lead some certain roles in the society, this has not gone down well with contemporary scholars who are seeking to change this age-long gender limits, some religious leaders ha e even wrote some narration about the reason why women are not allowed to lead their congregations in prayer as the priest males does.

[Ishicryptic]

Some traditions of the Catholic Church reflect a rather narrow focus on gender roles. For example, I don't understand why women can't be priests. To me, it seems like a tradition that comes more from a patriarchal system than from anything truly spiritual. And of course, while I also recognize that figures like the Virgin Mary have a special role within the Church, I don't know if that really balances the scales.

You contradict yourself, you implied that the Catholic church is biased by ordaining only male priests but you also recognized how they honor the virgin Mary, who is a woman, and every catholic, including the priests asks for her intercession in prayers. Ordaining only make priests is a tradition in the Catholic church, it has nothing to do with gender equality, also it is biblical, I have never heard of where a female priest is mentioned in the bible. Don't judge what you don't know about, we are all equal in the eyes of God and there is no discrimination between male and female, the only difference is that God gave men and women different functions on earth.

[EluguHcman]

Okay so let us just get straight to the point so this discussion does not become a religious criticism.

Women can not be ordained of becoming priests in the catholic churches due to theological and scriptural believe according to the Christianity historical traditions, were following the role of Jesus Christ as a man and haven his disciples full of men inclined.

So as the members of the Christianity religion presented as the followers of Christ, it is traditionally observed based on the religion that the Catholic church members as the followers of Christ to be lead by Christ in spirit should be represented by the priests in the gender of man just as Christ was also a man.

[Zlantann]

Some traditions of the Catholic Church reflect a rather narrow focus on gender roles. For example, I don't understand why women can't be priests. To me, it seems like a tradition that comes more from a patriarchal system than from anything truly spiritual. And of course, while I also recognize that figures like the Virgin Mary have a special role within the Church, I don't know if that really balances the scales.

The Bible dictates traditions or beliefs of the Catholic church.  Women in the Bible were not given priestly responsibilities.  They were given roles that were not as relevant as those given to men. Even some key figures in the Bible forbid women from speaking in the congregation of believers.  They are expected to channel their contributions to a man who would in turn inform the congregation.  In religious matters,there is no room for feminist views or fight for equal treatment.  Everything is based on the provisions of the Holy Books.

[paxmao]

Some traditions of the Catholic Church reflect a rather narrow focus on gender roles. For example, I don't understand why women can't be priests. To me, it seems like a tradition that comes more from a patriarchal system than from anything truly spiritual. And of course, while I also recognize that figures like the Virgin Mary have a special role within the Church, I don't know if that really balances the scales.

True, but also I guess what do you compare it to. Many major religions take an even stronger stance and when it is not religion is tradition. Nothing in Sinto says that women are inferior (AFAIK) but there is a tradition build around it. Overall, in most modern Christian countries women have the full set of rights.

RE the Catholic Chruch, I do not think there is anything that is dogmatic about not allow female priests and it could become a reality some day.  I can certainly assure that nunneries have  leaders, influence and "power" no lesser than monasteries or male orders.

[coin-investor]

Some traditions of the Catholic Church reflect a rather narrow focus on gender roles. For example, I don't understand why women can't be priests.

It's not about machismo but it's on the teaching that the woman should be under a man because the woman was created from the limb of the man, and all the other religions follow this tradition and teaching. I do not know of any religion where there were priestesses in the olden days.
Its the new age thinking and modern philosophy that accused Christianity and other religions of playing machismo
But that's how God ordered these things should be and no human should change that.

[BADecker]

The Catholic Church is the Roman Catholic Church. The real Church is loads of congregations of people who read and study the Bible. If they think about it, what they read is not what the Roman Catholic Church teaches.

The Roman Catholic Church is a world government. If the people want to follow this world government, that's up to them. Many people would rather be free of it.

[Gozie51]

I'm not Catholic but I'm in support of Catholic in this. The bible recognise the man as the head taking care of what is put in his hand which is a replica of God, taking control. While the bible recognise the woman as church. So the man is to take care of the church just like God takes care of the man. In other words, Man and woman are not suppose to share authority just like we as human/man can't share authority with God. So women are not suppose to lead the church, if they do then they are usurping power and authority over the man. They play other roles in the church and not to be priest but what can we say or what can we see, there are different women with different titles like "deaconess" female pastors leading the church.

[Dailyscript]

Some traditions of the Catholic Church reflect a rather narrow focus on gender roles. For example, I don't understand why women can't be priests. To me, it seems like a tradition that comes more from a patriarchal system than from anything truly spiritual. And of course, while I also recognize that figures like the Virgin Mary have a special role within the Church, I don't know if that really balances the scales.

Theses practices has existed before we were born. It has been passed from generation to generation and there was no documentary stating why it is so. In my opinion i believe a man to be like a father figure to everyone while a woman is a figure to women specifically. It was made know that Jesus is a man he walked the earth with people as his followers. This made people have faith in him in all his doings and decide to be like him. If he was a woman i dont know if he will have as much follower as he did. There is a reason why men are mostly leaders, while that reflects in Christianity as well as most religions in the world it will remain as it is.

[uneng]

I do not know of any religion where there were priestesses in the olden days.

The pagan polytheists religions had priestesses, such as the ones mentioned in The Bible and the greek one. An example can be found on Troy's movie, where the greek army kidnapped the niece of Troy's king, who was a priesteness of Apollo, and who ended having a romantic affair with Achilles.

The fact many of those ancient religions gave women the status of goddess, also implies it was acceptable for them to assign them religious authority in the society.

So, it's not a new phenomenon in the world to have women as religious authorities, but a rebranded one from ancient times.

[Bushdark]

Some traditions of the Catholic Church reflect a rather narrow focus on gender roles. For example, I don't understand why women can't be priests. To me, it seems like a tradition that comes more from a patriarchal system than from anything truly spiritual. And of course, while I also recognize that figures like the Virgin Mary have a special role within the Church, I don't know if that really balances the scales.

Maybe you can take a look at the aging days during the Church era when Jesus was accumulating people to work for him. There was never a time that woman was among the disciples of Jesus and there is a reason for that. I don't think it's now you need to complain why woman are not fit to be in priesthood. This could be a sacrilege we might not have any theory to back up. Just imagine that women are among the priesthood disciples! This you thinks that could make more disciples of the Lord to shift away from the calls due to the potentials that are beneath women body? I can't just imagine that dude!

[Y3shot]

The tradition of excluding women from priesthood is actually Biblical. Priests are basically the Leaders of the church or like a father is to the family, but women can be evangelists, prophets(prophetess), etc.  I believe the catholics are guided by the Christian Bible in that aspect, not because of machismo as you put it. Ofcourse, the adoration or honoration of Mary and their female saints is a testament to this. But whatever a church chooses to follow or practice has to be biblical (constitutional) otherwise she becomes like a sheep going astray

For me I think this as always been a tradition right from time, and itis is not what can be changed,  for me I think no big deal about it. The priest is just like a father. It is just like a house where there is no father,  no matter how a mother tries to play the role of a father, it won change anything because their is no father who will play the role of a father,  it is just the same thing  like in the  Catholic Church,  the priest is the rightful person to play the role of a priest.