Interfaith Group

One of the things that struck me most clearly about this article was how the struggles of women in the Catholic Church continue to mirror those of women in other churches and other, non-Christian faiths. The obvious parallel here is to the Episcopal women who began seeking ordination in the 1970:s,. When they were not taken seriously, they found a sympathetic Bishop who would ordain them, and when the dust settled and the scandalized shrieks died down, their ordinations were validated. The Episcopal Church now has a woman Presiding Bishop, as have the ELCA Lutherans. That same aggiornamiento has given the Church open LGBT clergy And it all started with a group of quietly rebellious women.

In her article, Hunt makes a brief mention--so brief it could easily be missed,-that some of the religious communities subjected to Benedict's little inquisition are quietly celebrating the sacraments among themselves. In theological terms, this implies that the Holy Spirit has made an end run around the male clergy and bestowed itself where it sees fit. That is wonderfully, marvellously subversive and strikes directly at the foundations of religious patriarchy.

Bert Brecht wrote:
Aber das weiche Wasser in Bewegungung,
MMit der Zeit den harten Stein besiegt.
Du verstehest: das Harte unterliegt.

"But with time, soft water in.motion
Conquers hard stone.
Understand: the hard one is defeated."

These sisters are that water. The future of the Church lies in their soft, implacable acts of disobedience.