Source: The Huffington Post
Pope Francis has said repeatedly that he wants to see greater roles for women in the Catholic Church, and some argue that he could take a giant step in that direction by appointing women to the College of Cardinals – the select and (so far) all-male club of “Princes of the Church” that casts secret ballots in a conclave to elect a new pope.
Whether it’s even possible is a matter of debate. But that hasn’t stopped the feverish speculation, which was sparked last month by an article in a Spanish newspaper in which Juan Arias, a former priest who writes from Brazil, wrote that the idea “is not a joke. It’s something that Pope Francis has thought about before: naming a woman cardinal.”
Arias quoted an unnamed priest — a Jesuit, like Francis – who said: “Knowing this pope, he wouldn’t hesitate before appointing a woman cardinal. … And he would indeed enjoy being the first pope to allow women to participate in the selection of a new pontiff.”
The Muslim Times Editor’s Note:
The Catholic Church does not believe in ordination of women and neither does any of the Orthodox churches. These churches represent approximately 65% of all Christians worldwide. In 1995 Pope John Paul II issued the statement Ordinatio Sacerdotalis in which he gave reasons why women cannot be ordained, and defined that the Holy Spirit had not conferred the power to ordain women upon the Church. The letter was concluded by saying:
“We declare that the Church has no authority whatsoever to confer priestly ordination on women and that this judgment is to be definitively held by all the Church’s faithful”
Islamic teachings do not discriminate between genders especially in spiritual matters. Ordination is not a human domain. The yard stick to value a man or woman is her/his piety and virtuosity and not gender. The Holy Qur’an says:
Surely, men who submit themselves to GOD and women who submit themselves to HIM, and believing men and believing women, and obedient men and obedient women, and truthful men and truthful women, and men steadfast in their faith and steadfast women, and men who are humble and women who are humble, and men who give alms and women who give alms, and men who fast and women who fast, and men who guard their chastity and women who guard their chastity and men who remember ALLAH much and women who remember HIM – ALLAH has prepared for all of them forgiveness and a great reward (Al Quran 33:36)
Additional Reading
Gender Equality in the Holy Qur’an – In the Beginning Man and Woman Were Equal
Categories: CHRISTIANITY, Europe, gender, Italy, Law and Religion, Religion, Women
Among Ahmadi Muslims, Women have no right to vote and elect a president for the community. His Amla is made up of all men. How can one justifies that Islam treat women as equal to men as the Quranic verse has been quoted above?
Ahmadi Women have their own organization called ‘Lajna,’ and they have their election and their detailed system.
Question with Mr. Khalid Sheikh
Does Islam allowed Muslim women to be a Spiritual Leader to lead both men & women together for Muslim Prayers (Salat)in Mosque’s
Mashaallah! Truly Allah (S.W.T) gave social justice both men and women. As a lady Muslima, I was elected as Governor in our college. Though majority says that women in Islam can’t lead, I still hope I might be enlightened by what Islam teaches. Thank you.