Purdue University
English Composition II – Eng 105
Fall 1988, Dr. Bolduc – (B)
The Catholic Church
The Catholic Church discriminates against women. A woman is barred from becoming a priest and is not allowed to read the gospel during mass.
I recall a sermon about vocations. The priest was trying to recruit clergy. It was obvious to me that he was only interested in recruiting males to be priests; I was not surprised. I was surprised when my 6-year-old daughter asked me, “Why can’t I become a priest when I grow up?” after hearing the sermon. Having to tell my daughter that she could not become a priest made me realize what an unfair practice it is for the church to discriminate against women. The church represents God; how can the church tell little girls that they are not as good as little boys? How dare the church tell little boys that they are better than little girls!
The church, being one of this country’s major institutions, has a responsibility to serve as a role model with “equal” (male and female) Christianity. Children are developing their sexual identities, what is conveyed to them from God through the church affects our future society; the church is oppressing women.
Since the church is trying to recruit clergy, why not place an ad in the Sun-Times Job Mart:
HELP WANTED
Young people sought who love God and have the ability to pocket their sexuality. The following are mandatory:
1. Penis and testicles
2. Absence of enlarged mammary glands
3. Facial hair
4. Voice with low decibel level
5. Ability to lift a prescribed dumbbell weight Modern employment applications now have questions such as sex, age, or marital status listed as optional; employers can get in trouble if they discriminate against applicants. Is it the separation of church and state that allows the church to continue this discrimination? Has it been proven that the five mandatory prerequisites listed in the ad are necessary to say mass, give sacraments, comfort the sick, teach theology, and collect donations? I see no logic to its discrimination. Unless I somehow become miraculously enlightened about what disqualifies a woman, I cannot see any logic in keeping women from serving God in an equal manner as men. I cannot imagine that God would be offended if I stood up in mass (without the previously mentioned qualifications) and read the gospel.