WCR Letters to the Editor

Fully living out Christ's model

Well, let me explain. Who do you think that I am? I am woman. Somewhat in excess of half the human beings on the planet.

I am created in the image and likeness of God. I am among those who went to the tomb on that long ago Easter morning and those who proclaimed, "The Lord has been raised," even though the men present did not believe them.

I am among those who walked with Christ to his crucifixion. I am a radical feminist following in the best way I know how in the footsteps of the Christ, who was first among radical feminists.

I am following the Christ who healed Peter's mother-in-law, healed the woman with the hemorrhage, raised the daughter of Jairus and conversed with the Syro-Phoenician woman.

Against all the Jewish laws of the day, he touched the woman, allowed himself to be served by the woman. He went against the righteous who were filled with their own self-importance.

As a radical feminist, I seek to eradicate the root of patriarchal society.

I am questioning the traditions of the Church to ordain only men.

And to those who claim that I am not entitled to my own thoughts, I simply have a smile. I will take full responsibility for my own thoughts and words and deeds having been created by the Creator who is far more than male or female attributes.

I fear sometimes for the anthropormorphic nature of the argument. To reduce God, Mother or Father, to the attributes of humans is truly amazing.

To reduce the decision to refuse to nurture the vocation of woman to the priesthood, to one of tradition, is also amazing. How can tradition be the source when women have been excluded from creating the tradition?

And when that "tradition" is based on Scripture written during a time when Paul, so often quoted in a most superficial manner, admonished the Galatian community: "As many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ, Jesus."

My question is simple: when do we take up the model which Christ left us and live it out in all its fullness?

So, I say to the gentleman, Who am I? I am neither slave nor free, neither male nor female, but one in Christ Jesus, together with many other Christian men and women.

And so, I will speak out even in the face of the anger of those who seek power over rather than power with and through.

Pearl Gregor
New Sarepta

More than outrageous?

Mary-Ellen Robinson
Edmonton

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