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THE ORDINATION OF WOMEN IN THE CATHOLIC CHURCH: Unmasking a cuckoo's egg tradition by John Wijngaards. Continuum 2001.
I highly recommend this book by John Wijngaards. The author provides us with a thorough analysis of the heathen cuckoo chick of anti-woman bias, which originated from pagan Roman law, intruded the nest of Christianity and threw out its opponents. In a stirring discourse he leads us through the historical development of traditional arguments against women's ordination, showing their inadequacy. But he also reveals the alternative face of church history, unknown to too many: the traditions of women deacons and of Mary Priest.
This is a book church leaders may not ignore. Its conclusions are of the utmost importance for the ecumenical debate on the renewal of church ministry. John Wijngaards is convinced that it is a time for speaking now. Hopefully he will find many attentive listeners.
Peter Nissen
Professor of Church History,
University of Nijmegen, The Netherlands
I have just read John Wijngaard’s latest book, and want to congratulate him on its clarity, forcefulness and cogency. ( I would only quibble with the primal androgyny in Genesis 2 on p72f).
As a member of ARCIC [= Official Dialogue between Roman Catholics and Anglicans] over the last 11 years, I was asked with a colleague to draft a statement on the ordination of women to the priesthood. Every text we proposed (5 of them!) was turned down by the Catholic members of the Commission. Effectively we were being silenced by the hierarchy - which is why this book is so timely and so important.
John Muddiman
Dept. of Theology, University of
Nottingham, UK
O Joy! A Comprehensive Source for Women's Ordination
at LastIn the last two years, I have done a lot of personal reading, writing & questioning on the subject of women's ordination & the Roman Catholic Ban on such, and worse, that loyal RC's have been told by our Holy Father to drop the subject of 'OW' entirely. This is a deeply disturbing ban to me -- I am a spiritual woman, I am Catholic & I -WANT- to talk about it! John Wijngaards has summarized in one neat package, with detailed references, both theological & personal, why and how women's roles in the dear RC have been limited and lost. That they need to be rediscovered, reclaimed & refreshed -- not to mention enriched & enhanced -- is no mean journey for the world's community of Catholics to embark upon. It's all here -- from the early deaconesses to the late (and very great) Therese of Lisieux. Church history has come to claim as its own the cuckoo's egg of ancient Roman Law that in its heyday also denigrated women. Either women are the spiritual equals of men or they are not; either there is no male and female in G_d or there is; either we are all called to a royal priesthood, or we are all sadly misinterpreting the great love of Jesus the Christ. The flaws in all the supposed theological arguments are carefully laid out & dissected & laid to rest herein. The RC Church cannot have it both ways. This book is simple, eminently readable, and profoundly moving.
I wrote to John tonight and told him I would read a few pages, then cry, read a few more, and cry more -- if the book was any longer, I don't know how I would survive it. It is not strident, but clear & respectful & authoritative, with lots of sources & resources. If you are beginning a search on this topic, or on a long personal journey of understanding how G_d is calling you, THIS is a good book. If you are already of a mind that reform in the RC priesthood is good & necessary, here are all the talking points in one straightforward package. If you are wondering what the fuss is about and why can't these women just go off to a nunnery somewhere, well, YOU are called to examine your true faith: the women can't go off somewhere else -- we are all in the body of Christ. We are all loved by G_d -- and this is a work of love by John Wijngaards.
Suzanne Michelle
Brooklyn, NY USA
Further information on the book:
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