Three 20-something women trying to figure out what it means to be lay, Catholic, and modern all at once.


February 18, 2009

Catholic Feminism

What a title, right?  Can these two words be placed next to one another? 

For a long time I have considered myself a Catholic feminist.  Yet many feminist circles would tell me that I cannot be one as I am a Catholic, and many Catholics have told me that feminism is opposed to our faith.  I disagree with both sides, as I really do believe that I value and care about the flourishing of women in society, which I believe is ultimately explained to us in Christ - in fact he expands the meaning of our womanhood beyond what it is in the natural realm.  

Anyway, this is the beginning of food for thought.  Please, please comment, and I'll be bringing this up later.  We can talk about JPII's writing, but I'd be really interested in original thoughts and writings of other figures.  Let's get going, women! 

On another note, Papa B kicks some a** 

Sorry, I swear sometimes.  

1 comment:

kath said...

In Johnette Benkovic's "Women of Grace" series she talks about "authentic femininity". She explains how women have unique attributes that call them to motherhood: sometimes this is in the physical sense, but always in a spiritual sense. As women we bring Christ to the world by passing on our spirituality to those we encounter. I've always been frustrated with the ideology of modern secular feminism and know that it is not true to Christ's teachings, or even the teachings of the early feminists (Susan B. Anthony, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, etc). Some of these truths are being unraveled by groups such as feminists for life (web address below) http://www.feministsforlife.org
So I definitely think the words "Catholic Feminism" can not only be placed next to one another, but belong together.

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