Kiwi:

It seems that the loudest voices demanding women's "ordination" are coming from New Zealand. Could you lend us:

1. Your assessment of the above; i.e., is there indeed a big push for the "ordination" of women in your country, and

2. Your own opinion on the subject?

-- jake (jake1REMOVE@pngusa.net), September 17, 2003

Answers

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-- . (.@....), September 17, 2003.

Hi Jake look I havent got anytime to do any research into this article at the moment other than just to briefly give you a few of my personal thoughts. I will of course investiagte later!

I would note that the author of the article is the late John Kennedy a very highly respected Cathoilic journalist in New Zealand and former editor of the NZ Tablet(sadly now no longer published), a Catholic paper which has recieved considerable praise for its orthodoxy and quality (from no less than the Catholic Encyclodepia all the way back in 1913! search "New Zealand") ALso the article is well over 10 years old which is worth noting.

It seems that the loudest voices demanding women's "ordination" are coming from New Zealand. Could you lend us:

>>>>Your assessment of the above; i.e., is there indeed a big push for the "ordination" of women in your country, and

I do spend some time with a relative who is a lecturer at the AUckland Theological College and also with Marist Brothers seminarians whom I occasionly have dinner with. We discuss all sorts of matters and issues relating to the Church in NZ today but this is certainly not one of them. The idea of even married priests is something at least these seminarians are not intrested in at all. I do however believe there is a very vocal and well organised feminist group of Nuns operating within the Church in NZ. But theyre in a very small minority and a shrinking aging one at that. Ive had a bit of contact with the Sisters of Mercy as I attended Mass at the Nuns Chapel and they fussed over me every Sunday when I was at boarding school. Lovely, holy womnen whose kindness and love I will remember forever.

As for the laity, on the whole very orthodox. We dont seem to get the larger numbers moving to the extremes of each end liberal/traditonal were just plain ol Catholics. Boring eh!

Id love to show you pictures of my Church, youd love it. VERY TRADITIONAL!

>>>>>>2. Your own opinion on the subject?

Over my dead body

God Bless

-- Kiwi (csisherwood@hotmail.com), September 18, 2003.

Thanks for your reply. I was hoping that the squeaky wheels were a small (albiet vocal) minority. Western journalism, as you know I sure, paints with huge brushes. Without saying so explicitly, they'll imply that a problem (especially one that relateds to the Church) are far more widespread and credible than they are.

I'd love to see pictures of your church. Sen'd 'em on, and I'll reciprocate with baby pictures. Don't forget to remove the "REMOVE."

-- jake (jake1REMOVE@pngusa.net), September 18, 2003.