DYMPNA
Madam, - May I, through the courtesy of your paper, congratulate Bishop Willie Walsh on his recent courageous interview on RTÉ? He is ploughing a lonely furrow and I wish him well.
His comments on the absence of women's input into church policy were timely. I have tried over the years to make women and men conscious of the injustice towards women, and of their rejection by an androcentric church. It is obvious to me that a male-driven institution cannot control or influence all strata of society. Young women in particular are ignoring the dictatorial attitude of the "powers that be" within the church.
I do not blame them! May I remind people that women have been responsible for steering popes through various crises - e.g., mystics such as Hildegarde of Bingen, Catherine of Siena and Teresa of Avila. It is time the Vatican realised that many women can make a valid contribution to church policy.
Unfortunately, I find most negativity comes from women themselves due, perhaps, to a lack of knowledge of their Christian background. If they read part of the Old Testament they will realise the quantum leap that Christ (a Jew) made in the prevailing attitude towards women. They were his valued friends and he repaid that friendship by revealing his true identity to them, while they stood by him to the end.
Over the centuries we were ignored by the patriarchal church but nowadays many will not tolerate it. I would advise the upper echelons of this male-dominated Church to have a rethink. - Yours, etc.,
DYMPNA MULQUEENEY RYAN,
Booterstown,
Co Dublin.