Why does the catholic church teach that women should be inferior to men?

Question

"Let a woman learn in silence with all submissiveness. I permit no woman to teach or to have authority over men; she is to keep silent." (1 Tim 2:11-12)

"Wives, be submissive to your husbands, as to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, and is himself its Savior." (Ephesians 5:22)

"As in all the churches of the saints, the women should keep silence in the churches. For they are not permitted to speak, but should be subordinate, as even the law says. If there is anything they desire to know, let them ask their husbands at home. For it is shameful for a woman to speak in church. . . . what I am writing to you is a command of the Lord." (1 Cor 14:33-35, 37)

ugh. you get the picture. So why does the catholic church teach this? Does it believe that women are inferior to men, in intelligence and otherwise? And is it implying that men are gods on earth? wtf!

so women can't be leaders or speak in public?
Why?

Alright, not just the catholic church. Yeah, i forgot about Islam and Judaism...

but thats the thing though. subordination between two people, a man and a woman, who are supposed to be equal. that doesn't make sense. if you are equal to somebody, one can't dominate the other.

And no, i'm not criticizing. I'm just questioning. Big difference. I admit, my language was too strong when i asked.

Alright, so if these are just quotes pulled from the bible that don't mean anything, how are you supposed to discern which parts of the bible you follow and which you don't?

Femi-nazi idoelogy... huh. very funny. calm down, will you?

Answer 1

What you cite is Scripture, which you must remember is an historical document as well as a spiritual one. The books you cite were written during a time when women were generally uneducated. Remember that Jewish tradition held that women did not receive the same training as men, nor even sat in the same places in synagogue.

But these were written 2,000 years ago, and much has changed since then. Women in the Catholic Church have a great deal more responsibility, especially as the lay people (non-ordained clergy) have grown in importance, although they are not yet able to become priests. I think that this parallels the development of society from a primarily patriarchal one to a more egalitarian one. Bear in mind that only 100 years ago, women could vote in only two states, and there still exists a disparity between population and the portion of women who are CEOs and other community leaders. This is expected to change as the next generation gains maturity and experience in their career paths.

The specific tracts that you mention deserve a little more inspection. Remember that the Epistles were written as letters, and just taking one sentence or paragraph out of it can take the entire meaning out of context. That goes for much of Scripture (unless you think Jesus spoke literally when he said "if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out!").

The quotation in Timothy comes from a list of instructions Paul was giving to Timothy, similar to how a Bishop would instruct a priest or deacon who is on mission. Timothy was, I believe, in Crete at the time, and had reported tensions between the Cretans (who Paul didn't like in the first place) and the Jewish converts to Christianity. The Jews were used to women being quiet in services, while the Cretans were more, shall we say egalitarian. I believe this order reflects the mindset of the time; if the same issue arose today, his advice would more likely have been to hold a town hall meeting or something more democratic to discuss leadership roles and responsibilities in the church.

The point in the letter to the Ephesians is likewise incomplete. Immediately following this passage is a similar admonition to the husbands to "honor" their wives. Modern teaching (see C. West's "The Good News About Sex and Marriage") exhorts equality between husband and wife, with the recognition of some difference in roles (especially as regards childbearing). Both are to be Christ to one another, so to speak, the instruments through which Christ's Love is felt by the spouse. It used to be that the husband would look to Christ while the wife to Mary, but with the decline of Marian veneration among younger Catholic generations, both now are more often told to imitate Christ (in reality, Mary is seen as an imitator of Christ as well, so the difference is more linguistic rather than semantic).

The passage in Corinthians reflects Paul's conservative Jewish upbringing. Remember that he was a leader within the Jewish community prior to his conversion. Note that his conservatism had softened in later years, as he mentions the names of female leaders in the Churches, particularly Priscilla.

Note also that women have played a strong role in the development of the Church. Scholastica directly helped develop the university system. Theresa of Avila and Catherine of Sienna are both Doctors of the Church, a rank shared by such visionaries as Augustine and Jerome.

In the modern Catholic Church, women have presided over wedding ceremonies, conduct eucharistic services in the absence of the priest (there's a Latin term for this, and it's quite common in some archdioceses such as Belleville, IL), assist at Mass as sacristans and ministers, and often serve leadership roles in counseling, education and administration. Moreover, women often sit on parish governance boards and committees. In short, women in the Catholic church are allowed to do everything a man is - except become a priest.

Answer 2

I'm not catholic but I do see your point. 1 Timothy 2:11-12 is & 1 Cor 14:33-35, 37 Someone once said that at that time there were a lot of women who were coming out of worshipping pagen gods and that was the reason for the women to ask the man at home. Going further with Timothy I'm sure if you read the whole chapter there is more to it than that.

For Eph only if your married. Also we are married to God is its like he does havet to submit to the father as well as you. If your husband loves you like Christ loves the church you'd also be willing to submit to your husband.

Women do speak in public well at least in the Christian faith. Women are leaders

Answer 3

well you could take the time to study the bible and what it actually means, you could also try reading the catechism of the catholic church. picking and choosing verses to make a point is of no use when reading and understanding the bible. context is key, many have already pointed out the meaning or basics of the passages you have used. if you look at teh catholic church we have several female "doctors" of the church, and let me clarify i don't mean doctor as in medical terms but as in teahers/theology, the blessed mother is held in high esteem over all others, excluding ofcourse the trinity, these are but a few examples.

Answer 4

You need to learn a bit more about Catholic teaching. Women can be leaders and can speak in public.

Sexism is against the teachings of Jesus Christ and the Catholic Church:

Created in the image of the one God and equally endowed with rational souls, all men have the same nature and the same origin. Redeemed by the sacrifice of Christ, all are called to participate in the same divine beatitude: all therefore enjoy an equal dignity.

The equality of men (and women) rests essentially on their dignity as persons and the rights that flow from it:

Every form of social or cultural discrimination in fundamental personal rights on the grounds of sex, race, color, social conditions, language, or religion must be curbed and eradicated as incompatible with God's design.

http://www.usccb.org/catechism/text/pt3sect1chpt2art3.htm#1934

The one exception is ordination. About which the Church currently teaches:

The Lord Jesus chose men to form the college of the twelve apostles, and the apostles did the same when they chose collaborators to succeed them in their ministry.

The Church recognizes herself to be bound by this choice made by the Lord himself. For this reason the ordination of women is not possible.

http://www.usccb.org/catechism/text/pt2sect2chpt3.htm#1577

With love in Christ.

Answer 5

Well, I am Catholic. I speak up all the time.
I have been attending church services for a long, long time. I do not recall a time where I was told to be submissive.

In fact, the Catholic Church I attend now encourages women to participate in all facets of the community. I doubt very seriously that church leaders believe women to be inferior.

Women have major roles in the administration of many Catholic Churches (women in religious communities and those who are non-religious).

I am speaking from my personal experience. I don't see it.

Answer 6

You are quoting the Bible and in the biblical days there was definately a problem with male dominance, but this in no longer, and obviously you haven't been in a post Vatican II church, in which the women are Cantors, Lectors, Extraordinary Ministers of the Eucharist, Youth Ministers in the Church, etc...
You need to learn the truth about something before displaying your ignorance towards something.
PS. The first deacons of the faith were woman as well as important figures in the Church:
ROM 16:3 "Greet Priscilla and Aquila, my fellow workers in
Christ Jesus." Fellow workers, not less workers of less human.
Love ya, and God bless.

You know I did forget one very important person, the person given the charge of raising our Lord and Savior, Mary, I do believe her role was much more than subserviant, and secondly she accepted fully her role as Mother of Christ Jesus, knowing fully well, that she would be the first of His disciples, chosen freely and out of love.

Answer 7

The Catholic Church teaches that men and women are of equal dignity.

Answer 8

This is one reason I answered the Call of the Mother Goddess.
The Catholic/Christian Church is based on the masculine belief that the feminine is to be held as inferior because they feared the feminine, they did not understand how a person could bleed for several days and not die.
They tried to take Her power. We are more than a vessel, we are not subordinate. We are balance, both are necessary for life.

Bright Blessings

Answer 9

this has less to do with Christianity and the Catholic Church than you realize. In reality, Judaism is the basis of Christianity (ergo, the Catholic Church) and women were very much considered inferior to men by Jews. This is why Peter didn't always like the fact that Jesus hung out with Mary.

Answer 10

Those are God's words, not the words of the Catholic Church.

God has appointed men to be the teachers in the congregation. Women may speak, but the teaching is to be done by the men.

God values women and the Bible commands men to love, honor, and cherish their wives.