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Vol. 81, No. 13
Thursday, March 29, 2001
$.50 PER ISSUE
Pope urges greater recognition of women in society, church
By John Thavis
Vatican City (CNS)
ope John Paul II said that despite decades of
progress in women’s rights, women are still
awaiting full recognition of their dignity in society
and in the church.
Women’s dignity is especially harmed by prac
tices like sex tourism, mass sterilization and various
forms of violence, the pope said. He termed abor
tion an “aberration” that distorts the idea of wo
men’s rights and weakens those of unborn children.
The pope’s comments came in a message to some
600 delegates of the World Union of Catholic Wo
men’s Organizations, which held a general assembly
in Rome March 17-21. Since 1910, the movement
has brought together women from church activist
groups all over the world.
The pope told the delegates that, when it comes to
appreciation of women and their role, “the journey
traveled in the course of the past century has been
remarkable.”
“In many countries women today enjoy freedom
of movement, of decision and of self-expression, a
freedom which they have achieved with clear-mind-
edness and courage,” he said.
But he said the delegates were rightly praying for
an end to “the many obstacles which still hinder full
recognition of the dignity and mission of women in
society and within the ecclesial community.”
Among the impediments to women’s genuine ful
fillment, he said, were those created by the prevail
ing culture across the globe, including models of
life that are “contrary to women’s deeper nature.”
“There have been serious aberrations, some aris
ing from individual selfishness and a refusal to love,
others from a mentality that stresses each individ
ual’s rights to such an extent that respect for the
rights of others is weakened, and particularly those
of defenseless unborn children who in many cases
are deprived of all legal protection,” he said.
The pope said part of the role of the Catholic
women’s organizations was to be a voice in interna
tional forums and “insist that every life is a gift of
God and deserves to be respected.”
He also encouraged the organizations to help pro
vide more material and moral support to women in
difficulty, including victims of poverty and violence.
This is especially important today “in a world fasci
nated by success and efficiency, but in which many
people have no share in the benefits of global
progress and are becoming poorer and more neg
lected than ever,” he said.
Within the church, he said, “feminine holiness” is
indispensable and is rooted in the role of Mary in
the early days of the Christian community. “The
world and the church need your specific witness,”
he said.
The pope said women were uniquely gifted to
transmit the faith and apply it to all of life’s circum
stances, in the family and in the worlds of work,
study and leisure. “Today, at a time of a deep spiri
tual and cultural crisis, this task has assumed an
urgency that cannot be overstated,” he said.
Deacon candidates installed as acolytes
Left: Bishop J. Kevin Boland presents a paten with hosts for the celebration of the Eucharist to Larry Guyer, a candidate
for the permanent diaconate for Saint William Parish, Saint Simons Island, during the current diocesan formation class’
installation as acolytes on March 24 at the Cathedral of Saint John the Baptist, Savannah. Right: The sixteen candidates
for the permanent diaconate await their installation as acolytes, assistants to priests and deacons in the celebration of
the Eucharist. They will be ordained permanent deacons on June 2 in the Cathedral.
Photos by Deacon Dennis Arcand.
The “other Sherman’*
Oscars go to heroes—this year
Spotlight on Valdosta-Brunswick
—see page 3
—see page 4
—see page 7