Brev från en ung katolsk prästseminarist i Rom
Fick just läsa följande fantastiska brev apropå aktionen nyligen (där de som lämnade över skrivelsen om kvinnliga diakoner till påven även delade ut broschyrer om kvinnliga präster på Petersplatsen - och blev arresterade flera gånger av italiensk polis p.g.a. detta).
Läste brevet med tårar i ögonen. Tack, Gud, för de yngsta prästkandidaterna....!!!
Nedan är ett utdrag - läs hela brevet här.
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"I am a seminarian studying for the priesthood in Rome. You do not know who I am, but I met you in Rome. I was dressed casually and not wearing my clerical clothes. You handed me one of the WOC cards while I was crossing the street. I simply said thank you and kept on walking, not realizing what it was for at first.
I must tell you that I was so very impressed by how you, Erin Hanna, and the other women from WOC made your presence known in Rome in such a positive way. It is important for you to understand that your efforts were a great success, more than you realize. WOC has been out of Rome for almost two weeks now and you are still being talked about at my seminary and I am still seeing your cards and pamphlets around the city. You inspired many women and men about their faith and women's equality within our Church.
I will tell you in complete confidence that many of the young seminarians between the ages of 21-35 years old support (privately, of course) the ordination of Catholic women in the Church. It is mostly the older seminarians and priests that have a lot of difficulty with such an idea.
What impressed me and other seminarians about your group's presence in Rome is the fact that you led the protests in a very respectful and peaceful manner, yet you were very effective and became "the talk of the town" so to speak.
I can provide you with information about the topics of conversation in the seminary, including the ordination of women. I will say that many of the older priests and seminarians are truly afraid of WOC and their continued success in our Church and culture, mainly because they do not like change. However, many unfortunately, also still hold some very sexist views of women.
One thing I've learned from growing up with sisters is to respect women -- ALWAYS -- and I certainly do. I believe that many women would make excellent, holy priests in our Catholic Church. The gift, talents and charisma that many women could bring to the office of priesthood are innumerable."
***
Uppdatering:
Följande är vad Women's Ordination Conference (WOC) gjorde i Rom (ur deras nyhetsbrev):
"Generated international media coverage of the women's ordination movement in more than 100 media outlets around the world, including Associated Press, International Herald Tribune, Univision, and the major press agencies in Germany and Italy. News of our campaign reached Austria, Canada, New Zealand, Australia, Nicaragua, the U.K., Vatican City and more (see below for details).
Distributed over 1,000 stickers and over 600 fliers to visitors in St. Peter's Square, including many priests and women religious.
Raised public awareness around Rome and in Vatican City, by carrying our banner and by wearing "Ordain Women" t-shirts in nine languages.
Educated Catholics about the archaeological sites depicting women's leadership in early Christianity by arranging a slide show presentation and organizing a tour of the sites.
Throughout the week, we and our coalition partners became well-known in Vatican City. We were highly visible, holding a banner stating "Ordain Catholic Women," wearing our purple stoles, and sporting "Ordain Women" buttons and t-shirts in English, French, Gaelic, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, and Spanish. All along our route, we handed out fliers in six languages citing the reasons to ordain women. Hundreds of women and men smiled and nodded to us, and we educated many about WOC and the need for women's ordination.
Our conversations with Roman Catholics from around the world reinforced what we knew all along - that a majority of Catholics the world over support women's ordination. We engaged in noteworthy dialogue with three young seminarians, who by the end of our conversation, agreed that women's ordination should at the very least be open for discussion.
/.../
WOC's campaign succeeded beyond our expectations, and our presence reverberated throughout the streets of Rome. On our final day in St. Peter's Square handing out literature on women's ordination, Erin and I were detained one final time. When we told the Italian police officer that we were headed back to the U.S. the following day, he shouted, "Thanks be to God!" We took it as a compliment. Our hard work had paid off, as the Vatican had taken notice of our campaign."
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