Boston Archbishop O'Malley Offers Apology to Women for Feminism Comments, Foot-Washing Rite

TBO.com ^ | April 30, 2004 | AP

[Land of the Irish]

BOSTON (AP) - Boston Archbishop Sean P. O'Malley offered an apology to women for including feminism in a list of societal ills, and for his decision not to include women in a foot-washing ceremony. O'Malley, in a letter published in Friday's edition of The Pilot, the archdiocesan newspaper, praised what he termed "Christian feminism," and affirmed his support for the contributions of women in the church.

He also pledged to seek guidance on whether he should wash women's feet when he visits the Vatican in August.

"I am sorry if this controversy has been upsetting to our Catholic women, and I hope that these reflections will help you to understand that I more than value the gifts and contributions that women make to our church and to my own faith life," he wrote.

The controversy erupted on April 6 when during a homily, O'Malley said of the Baby Boom generation, "they are heirs to Woodstock, the drug culture, the sexual revolution, feminism, the breakdown of authority, and divorce."

Two days later, O'Malley washed the feet of 12 men on Holy Thursday, breaking with the tradition of his predecessor, Cardinal Bernard F. Law, who washed the feet of men and women.

An O'Malley spokesman said the archbishop washed the feet of 12 men because Jesus' apostles were 12 men, adding that parish priests were still free to wash the feet of men and women.

[Land of the Irish]

Ping

[RaginCajunTrad]

The Cardinal is supposed to be some kind of orthodox conservative.

He backs away from criticising "feminists".
He distances himself from refusing to give Holy Communion to openly pro-abort "Catholic" politicians.
He won't dictate to his priests about washing the feet of women.

O'Malley seems to me to be just another Law.

Too bad.

[TradicalRC]

It should be obvious that any word that ends with the suffix -ism is at some point incompatible with Christianity.

[NeoCaveman]

What a wuss.

[Canticle_of_Deborah]

O'Malley caves.

[franky]

****"they are heirs to Woodstock, the drug culture, the sexual revolution, feminism, the breakdown of authority, and divorce."****

As women go so goes society. And it ain't a pretty picture right now. Women have lost their modesty and of course this turns men on and we then have sin.

[aimhigh]

O'Malley - didn't sound like a French name to me.

[gemoftheocean]

As women go so goes society. And it ain't a pretty picture right now. Women have lost their modesty and of course this turns men on and we then have sin.

Lord knows there are NEVER any men who've lost their modesty. What's the big deal about men wearing their pants low slung and showing off a hairy crack anyway?

O'Malley is about as effective as a 3 dollar bill.

[lnbjohnson]

The washing of feet isn't intended to be an historical reenactment. It is a reminder that Jesus calls us to humble ourselves and serve those around us. In this spirit it would be appropriate to include everyone.

[gbcdoj]

The only problem is that the official Vatican instructions state that "viri selecti" (selected men) are to have their feet washed. Anything else during the Holy Mass is sinful disobedience.

[Arguss]

If a man can't handle the small details, how can he be trusted to take care of the big ones?

It's in the General Instructions of the Roman Missal. He doesn't even have to take the heat for it.

[ardara]

Archbishop O'Malley got involved with this minor issue of foot washing so he can let liberal- Cardinal Mc Carrick do his job regarding Kerry.Remember O'Malley's parishoner supports murdering unborn babies of any age.These Bishops look sillier by the day.

[don-o]

The washing of feet isn't intended to be an historical reenactment. It is a reminder that Jesus calls us to humble ourselves and serve those around us. In this spirit it would be appropriate to include everyone.

Uh, you left off the "IMO" - which is all that is.

Catholics who cling to their roots, as well as Orthodox Christians hold that the liturgical acts (including foot washing) a "re-presentations" of the original.

These turn our minds out of the "here and now" to the "as it always has been."

For 2,000 years, only men got their feet washed. Now, someone has a better idea?

[Land of the Irish]

O'Malley - didn't sound like a French name to me.

Neither does McCarrick nor Mahoney. Go figure.

[Cicero]

Oh, dear. Once a bishop starts apologizing, there is never an end of it.

Cardinal Law appeared to be a strong, conservative bishop when he was first appointed, and he was cordially disliked by the liberal Catholics of Massachusetts. But evidently he began to give way, and pretty soon he was making excuses for pedophile priests.

O'Malley has also continued to back that really horrible sex ed program.

[sinkspur]

The washing of feet isn't intended to be an historical reenactment. It is a reminder that Jesus calls us to humble ourselves and serve those around us. In this spirit it would be appropriate to include everyone.

Yep. If O'Malley doesn't get the answer he wants from the Vatican, he can just drop the ceremony.

It IS optional.

[sinkspur]

For 2,000 years, only men got their feet washed. Now, someone has a better idea?

Actually the washing of the feet had fallen into disuse for some 400 years, until Pius XII reintroduced it, in 1955.

[Land of the Irish]

O'Malley caves.

"O'Malley, in a letter published in Friday's edition of The Pilot, the archdiocesan newspaper, praised what he termed "Christian feminism,""

[thor76]

Good points made: a) ONLY men's feet may be washed, that is the rule, plain and simple. There have been numerous pronouncements from Rome on this issue, and b) if it is going to be a political debacle, the pastor or bishop should suppress the ceremony - it is optional!