We Are Church Zoom presentation: Fr John O’Brien on Women’s Ordination
John O’Brien
Women’s Ordination
Followed by Q & A
7.30 – 9.00pm Tuesday 2nd of February 2021
Online ZOOM event
Professor John O’Brien
Fr John O’Brien is a Spiritan priest who worked for 30 years in Pakistan. He is currently a professor of theology at Durham University. His new book “Women’s Ordination in the Catholic Church” (Cascade Books) examines Catholic tradition faithfully and in detail, to demonstrate that women have been and can be ordained.
Please click below to book your FREE ticket on Eventbrite
https://www.eventbrite.ie/e/womens-ordination-tickets-132714098441
You will then be sent an email before the event with a ZOOM link
Angela Hanley’s review of ‘Women’s Ordination in the Catholic Church’ by John O’Brien is well worth reading
https://www.associationofcatholicpriests.ie/2020/10/angela-hanleys-review-of-womens-ordination-in-the-catholic-church-by-john-obrien/
Thank you Soline for that timely reminder of Angela Hanley’s noteworthy review.
Today I listened to our Deacon give his homily. He is a lovely man and has grown in his role as a Deacon over the years with his depth of knowledge having increased noticeably over the years and his confidence growing as he becomes more experienced in his role. Yet every time he preaches his homily a sadness prevails over me as I wonder what homily some of our women in the Parish would have given, what words of faith/wisdom/encouragement would they have shared with us- some of these ladies already have degrees in Theology or Religious studies. If we had non gender-specific deacons, wouldn’t that be just lovely to hear rather than the silenced voices that haunt the same space.
Our PP told us how much on-line donations were received this week .. paltry amounts unfortunately. I feel for him, it is not a nice position to be put in at any time, asking for monies and at this time it must be particularly tough for many reasons. However, women can no longer look at this from a local level only, we must look at the bigger picture and the bigger picture is one of an institution that runs on a foundation of male supremacy, a power game, a closed shop approach. This has no place in our society now and certainly women do not wish to be associated with this inequality let alone support its continuation, and a great many men as we know feel the same.
AB-elect Dermot Farrell said in his interview posted on this site on 4th Jan.
https://www.associationofcatholicpriests.ie/2021/01/full-interview-with-dublin-archbishop-elect-dermot-farrell-by-patsy-mcgarry-the-irish-times/
Women priests/deacons.
“Pope Francis has put a new Commission in place. In terms of a way to go, that’s a way to go……
The danger is such change could lead to a schismatic church….
That’s a huge issue. What Pope Francis has done is that he has initiated the debate …but it’s going to be slow. I don’t think it’s going to be done overnight. There’ll be a lot of discussion.”
Regardless of his personal subjective preference he has said that there will be a lot of discussion. Meanwhile the ladies that could be Deacons remain silenced whilst the men talk about talks – it appears to be serious time wasting in the hope of appeasing misogynists … why? Is there not already a schism between lay and religious that is getting wider? Do vibrant parishes exist only because of certain priests being in situ rather than being helped by objective-based practises based on our Faith and shared commitment by all?
I do hope that this discussion does not reduce to being merely of an academic nature, Angela Hanley and Soline both feel that John O’Brien has done us a great service in writing a book that deserves further discussion. Perhaps it will also help diminish the need for more academic debate and hasten the path to action.
Soline and Phil, there is also an excellent book by John Wijngaards:
“What they don’t teach you in Catholic College. Women in the priesthood and the mind of Christ.”
#2 Phil,I agree with your observation that the institution runs on a foundation of male supremacy. When more church members see through the incense fog that masks it as ”the will of God” or ”the example of Christ”, and have the love and courage to speak, live and act accordingly, we will experience anew the liberating Good News that
”in Christ there is no longer male and female”.
Stop male supremacy in the catholic church:
https://www.ncronline.org/news/people/ordain-women-priests-billboard-campaign-expands-new-orleans
#3 Thank you Paddy. I have this book by John Wijngaards. He has been a lifelong advocate of women’s equality.
Blessings on the feast of St Brigid…ordained a bishop by St Mel!
Here is a video link to John O’Brien’s excellent talk:
https://us02web.zoom.us/rec/play/-scNcKQFxuPfjXBZocdi9k89TKogUtzIEkejx3kKYye1XAiDngV1Tiktiovjx1PaivOZjyuNi0cWmTQ.t0hqJdycX48CIm9-?continueMode=true&_x_zm_rtaid=o-lRkzMpSsuKCTdsVGfUPw.1612775218222.c5fe66e55e0952e404bc4c294c761e98&_x_zm_rhtaid=533