Opinion Can we have a Madam Pope?

“Certainly the church is not a democratic society in the way civil society understands,” said Cardinal Jose Saraiva Martins of Portugal. “It’s a hierarchical church,therefore not everyone is equal.” Yet according to catechism of the Catholic Church,“Man and woman have been willed by God in perfect equality as human persons.” Neither the Vatican,nor any Catholic institution,seems to recognise that. I’ve often heard several women in Europe being morally depressed over the misogynic behaviour of men. Even Emperor Napoleon relegated women’s role to be mere baby producing machines.

The Vatican continues to decide that women have no right over their bodies,that is,abortion is frowned upon. Women also have little right over Vatican administration,so can there ever be any chance of a Madam Pope in the near future? Actually,a legend and myth about Pope Joan,a ninth-century Englishwoman,already exists. As women in the Catholic Church were not,then and not now either,allowed training to be priests,she disguised herself under lots of clerical robes and became one. She was so knowledgeable and committed that she overtook the men to be raised to a cardinal and then Pope. Later she “went into labour during a papal procession and the mob descended on her and her child,ending her reign.” Oxford University theologian and historian Diarmaid MacCulloch said Pope Joan’s story is satirical fiction. Perhaps in anticipation,two films have been made on Pope Joan.

When Karl Marx said religion is the opium of the masses he meant that faith makes people into blind,unquestioning followers. Religion seems to so completely obliterate every notion of justice and equality that opium is too mild a comparison. People can wake up from time to time with opium. So it’s actually permanent anaesthesia that’s been injected into human society,both men and women. All religions of the world practise this form of anaesthesia. When you’re born it’s transmitted into your body,mind and spirit in a way that you’ll find it tough to get rid of it. Even the non-dogmatic,non-converting Hindu religion has so many customs that smother women. Deep rooted anaesthesia,from caste divisions to sati,widows as outcasts and general second or third class treatment,has engulfed women’s role crafted by men.

Speculation continues to be rife as to whether the high rise of allegedly masculine homosexuality and child abuse and conspiracies inside Catholic institutions were among the real reasons for Pope Benedict XVI’s resignation. Cases of sexual abuse have been reported in Canada,Ireland,the United Kingdom,the United States of America,Mexico,Belgium,France,Germany,Australia,New Zealand and a few countries in Latin America,Africa and Asia. In 2004,the John Jay report tabulated a total of 4,392 US priests and deacons against whom sexual abuse allegations were made. Benedict XVI is the first Pope in some six centuries to step down rather than die in office. He’s set a new trend as though he’s the head of a corporate job,not a spiritual leader. There’s certainly scope for this never-before-done act to spread trends in newer areas,hopefully in favouring women too. Aside from becoming a Pope,can a woman priest become a mother?

Several Catholic women from the US,UK and Australia gathered in Rome when the new Pope Francis was being selected,and let off small puffs of pink smoke to protest against women being continuously excluded from the priesthood. They were mimicking the puffs that are let out from the Sistine Chapel chimney when the cardinals decide on a new Pope. Miriam Duignan of ‘Women can be priests’ Association said,“Jesus did not exclude women. So why do cardinals make a point of actively excluding women? And of criminalising anybody that speaks out in favour of women priests?”

Will there be gender balance in the Vatican in the near future? Is it not illogical that when the Catholic religion considers procreation so important,the Holy See refuses to recognise the value of women as a part of the Vatican?

Shombit is an international consultant to top management on differentiating business strategy with execution excellence (www.shiningconsulting.com)