Browsing by Author "Thuku, David Mwaura"

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    Is The Place and Role of Women in The Community and Gospel of Matthew Reflected in The Church Today? With Special Reference to Ting'ang'a Parish in The Nairobi Archdiocese-Kenya.
    (Tangaza University College, 2002-02) Thuku, David Mwaura
    Who are the cornerstones of our church? Is it men as tradition has it or women who are considering themselves as forgotten partners in the Roman Catholic Church that is patriarchal, pyramidal and male defined. The question of women's place and role in the church has acquired particular importance in recent times. The growing volume of important literature addressing this concern indicates the significance that is being attached to this question in the present decade. It is one of the pressing pastoral problems and issues facing the church today. Lane says, " Anyone who is remotely in touch with pastoral rumblings will realise how serious the question of women in the church has become in recent times"! Okure writes: This issue of women's place and role in the church and society constitutes, perhaps the single most important theological question of our century. Indeed, some scholars2 have compared it to the question of the Gentiles in the early days of Christianity. Not surprisingly, as arguments rooted in scriptures were used to sustain the practice of forcing Gentiles to undergo circumcision as a condition of salvation, so too today, scriptural arguments are advanced to justly the age-old practice of excluding women from certain leadership and ministerial roles in the church. Until today, despite the ongoing debates, literature, seminars, workshops and conferences on women's role in the church, and despite the new biblical studies and new interpretation about the church community as a discipleship of equals4, the church is still holding a very rigid position regarding the type of ministry women can exercise. Women are not only the silent majority but they are also the silenced majority.5 A story is told of St. Bernard, that one day while he was praying before the altar of the Madonna, Mary suddenly opened her mouth and began to speak: 'Be silent! Be silent'! St. Bernard cried in desperation; 'women are not allowed to speak in the Church."6 The response of St. Bernard seems to be the same response of the Roman Catholic Church to all women. No wonder this year's theme on Women's International Day, Women breaking the Silence7, though a fitting theme, left many asking the major question, to whom do women break their silence? To whom do they tell their story when those meant to hear it are either blind to it, or do not care?8 This shows that they have little to celebrate. However, Pope John Paul II offers some hope to these silenced and marginalised women when he declares, "The hour is coming in fact has come, when the vocation of women is being acknowledged in its fullness, the hour in which women acquire in the world an influence, an effect and a power never hitherto The Pope affirms that women too are called and elected by God.1° Ironically there are still so many roles in the church that women are denied." The Catholic Church is invited to discover an appropriate role for women. Unless this happens the Church will continue to face this critical issue. Both women and men should therefore have more than a passing interest in this issue. This essay, therefore, endeavours to be my contribution to the noble and worthy cause of women's role and place in the hierarchical Catholic Church. It intends to offer an encouragement to those women who are working for self-empowerment and to have their voices heard.I2 achieved