Sylvia Poggioli, NPR
Posted on 04/18/2006 9:07:46 AM PDT by NYer
April 16, 2006 · Inscriptions and images found on tombstones, frescoes and mosaics throughout the Mediterranean show that women held respected roles in the early Christian church that were identical to those held by men. They were apostles, priests, deacons and bishops.
But the Vatican's official view of church history presents women in a different light. Recently, a group of 31 American Catholic women, organized by the group FutureChurch, visited Rome to inspect the archeological evidence of female leadership.
Many who made the trip say they were inspired to become more active in their local church communities.
"We would just like to talk to our leaders," said Sister Christine Schenk, co-leader of the pilgrimage, "and tell them of our experience--how we can begin to re-institute that wonderful balanced leadership we had in the first three centuries of both women and men leading the communities."
A mosaic of women who became saints after risking their lives to collect the relics of martyrs, St. Praxedes church, Rome.
A mosaic in St. Praxedes church, Rome. Theodora is on the left with a square halo, indicating she was alive when the mosaic was made.
Solemn Warning! The following people are those who claim to be Catholic but dissent from the Truth as handed down from Jesus Christ, Second Person of the Most Blessed Trinity, the Divine Word, to His Apostles and their successors.
|
Women Priests |
|
| Sr. Lavinia Byrne | Book titled Women at the Altar (condemned by the Congregation for the Doctrine of Faith) |
| Sr. Joan Chittister, OSB | A supporter of Call to Action who promotes women priests. |
| Paul Collins, ex-priest | Author of the books "Papal Power" and "Mixed Blessings," who was under investigation by the Vatican claims since 1998, claims that it is ìfar too earlyî for definitive closure on the issue of womenís ordination. |
| Sr. Fran Ferder | Quixote Center book titled Called to Break Bread? A Psychological Investigation of 100 Women Who Feel Called to the Priesthood in the Catholic Church. As co-author of a National Catholic Reporter article dated 5/12/02 she states "Central to a more inclusive, open system, is, of course, the need to welcome sacramental ministers from all lifestyles and both genders." |
| Barbara Fiand | Theologian teaching that women should be priests. |
| Maureen Fiedler | Interim Co-Coordinator of Women's Ordination Conference. |
| Ruth Fitzpatrick | Women's Ordination Conference. |
| Fr. John Heagle | As co-author of an article printed in the National Catholic Reporter dated 5/12/02 he states "Central to a more inclusive, open system, is, of course, the need to welcome sacramental ministers from all lifestyles and both genders." |
| Andrea M. Johnson | Women's Ordination Conference National Coordinator and support of Catholic Organizations for Renewal. |
| Sr. Elizabeth Johnson | Promotes Women priests. |
| Sr. Theresa Kane, R.S.M | Promotes Women priests. |
| Fr. Richard McBrien | Claims that a future Pope must overturn the infallible document disallowing women "priests" (Ordinatio Sacerdotalis). |
| Sr. Ruth Sch”fer | Organized "Action Purple Stole," a womens' ordination protest. |
| Christine Schenk | FutureChurch, Women in Church Leadership (WICL). |
| Sandra Schneiders (cited in Renew 2000) |
Speaker at Call to Action conferences. |
| Karen Schwarz | Coordinates San Francisco Women's Ordination Conference/WomenChurch. |
| Bishop "Willie" Walsh | Bishop of Killaloe Ireland said that he would happily ordain women and that the Church "missed out" by not doing so. |
| Fr. John Wijngaards | Author of "Did Christ rule out women priests?" |
| (ex-Bishop) Romulo Antonio Braschi: Christine Mayr- Lumetzberger, Adelinde Theresia Roitinger, Gisela Forster, Iris Muller, Ida Raming, Pia Brunner, Angela White |
Seven women who went through a mock ordination ceremony held by a schismatic ex-bishop Antonio Braschi. See their warning and subsequent formal excommunication notice here. |
"FutureChurch seeks to participate in formulating and expressing the Sensus Fidelium (the Spirit inspired beliefs of the faithful) through open, prayerful and enlightened dialogue with other Catholics locally and globally."
FUTURE CHURCH
"They were apostles, priests, deacons and bishops. "
Amazing how NPR states this as a fact. There were never female priests (presbyters), apostles or bishops (episcopi). Ever. There were women called deacons, but it is unclear whether or not this term means anything more than roles women currently have in the church. If anything, they probably have more, now: lecter, EME, catechist, parish management, etc.
Thanks for posting the dissenting information about this organization.
| FutureChurch | A regional parish-based coalition seeking to address the priest shortage. FutureChurch claims the remedy is the ordination of married men and women. FutureChurch engages in educational presentations to parishes, grass-roots organizations, and the media. Its current project is a nationally-promoted dialogue on an "inclusive priesthood." Member of Catholic Organizations for Renewal |
a fresco of Theodora "shows that women were priests, deacons, and bishops" in the first 300 years of the church? Uhh, no.
If you want to do a story about women with influential rolls in the church, may I recommend a book for you, NPR?
http://www.ewtn.com/catalogue/index.asp
Consider, too, that St. John Chrosostom, who appointed more women as deaconnesses than any other Bishop in history, very clearly recruited them for charitable works, and for catechizing and baptizing women and children (since the baptized person, in those days, was immersed naked ian the waters of baptism, and for obvious reasons it was considered necessary for deaconesses to confer this sacrament.)
I'll bet a real nun, our beloved Mother Angelica, would have quite a few things to say about this "sister" Schenk!
Is this the actress Theodora who married the emperor, and who was famous for her nude dancing?
A great role model...
It's great that NPR leads with a flat-out lie. That way, everyone knows where they stand: they're obedient servants of their father, the author of lies.
"since the baptized person, in those days, was immersed naked ian the waters of baptism"
I had a "Really? Really." moment yesterday.
My daughter and I are looking for a parish in Boise, and went to look at a church.
They had a hot tub sitting in front of the altar. I asked the office lady about it, and she said they had baptised their catechumens by full immersion at the Easter Vigil Mass, and that baptism by full immersion was "encouraged."
I asked by whom it was encouraged, and just got some vague stuff about how it used to be done in ancient times.
Is it true that the Catholic Church is now officially encouraging baptism by full immersion?
Anthony Pilla's tolerance of FutureChurch, which started in the Diocese of Cleveland and has now spread throughout the country, may be one reason that Rome has so quickly accepted (if it did not in fact ask for) his resignation. It's unbelievable that Christine Schenk and her band of heretics are now visiting Europe trying to spread their heresy.
I can only hope that Bishop Lennon cracks down on these dissenters.
No.
No.
Jeez. Looks like I may have to get in touch with SSPX just to get away from the clown masses.
We went to the Cathedral of St. John for Easter Mass.
The first ditty they sang was "Sing a New Song" by Dan Schute. The theme of the homily was "Yer Dern Tootin," delivered by Father Relevant, your hippy-dippy priest, as he paced back and forth in front of the altar wearing a cowboy hat, which he called his "Easter Bonnet."
Gag.
That is too bad, since baptism is by definition full immersion.
Before you jump ship, here is a listing of parishes within the Boise Diocese.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.