Feminist theologian Dr Niamh M. Middleton has repeatedly warned that both the Church of England and Catholic Church, which have seen dwindling congregations for decades, face extinction within 30 years. That is, unless they radically reform to give equal standing to women. Dr Middleton, author of Jesus and Women, tells The London Economic (TLE) digital Read more
Seven women are seeking leadership roles in the French Catholic Church heirarchy. These roles include positions as priests and bishops, which are officially reserved for men. This is the latest push to give women a significant place in the Catholic hierarchy. After submitting their candidacies for various leadership roles, including deacon, priest and bishop, the Read more
The outgoing headmaster of one of Australia’s most prestigious boys’ schools has used New Zealand research to support his contention that boys do better in single-sex schools. Timothy Wright is retiring in December after 17 years running the Sydney Church of England Grammar School. He said he welcomed discussion around what it meant to be Read more
New research suggests New Zealanders appear to have a less tolerant of sexist or racist content. It also shows some New Zealanders now have a more tolernat of bad language and nudity than was found in previous years. Broadcasting Standards Authority (BSA) chief executive Belinda Moffat said the research “indicates these changes are strongly influenced Read more
Actor Meryl Streep has said that the Catholic Church is contributing to “infuriating” levels of sexism in the world. Speaking at the London Film Festival last week, Streep said “the Church is a body that excludes people”. “There are two places you [women] can’t vote in the world – in Saudi Arabia, although they are Read more
Mothers at a Melbourne primary school have been outraged at a school newsletter article that advised them to get rid of male friends to protect their marriages. St James Catholic Primary School in Brighton, east of Melbourne, included an article titled “15 Ways to Protect Your Marriage” in its August 7 school newsletter. The article, submitted by Read more
Student Tyler Dixon is used to being asked about women’s place on the marae. Her pakeha friends ask if the traditional role of women in the powhiri is sexist. “I just try to explain that females have their own type of mana. Traditionally Maori really revered their women, and looked after their women, and I Read more
The American Lingerie Football League (LFL) has arrived in Australia. In an opinion piece in Eureka Street, Catherine Marshall points out that while a few newspaper writers “have done much to highlight the misogyny that is inherent to this form of entertainment, they have done so against a rousing tide of public support for this seedy Read more
Catholic women are being urged to write to their bishop to protest at sexist language in the new version of the Roman missal. Fr Sean McDonagh of Ireland’s Association of Catholic priests said it was obvious from the language of the new missal that not a single woman had been consulted while it was being Read more
A number of issues which may appear to be unrelated have been in the news Redefining Marriage, Children being raised in a “gender free” environment, Alasdair Thompson’s comments on workplace productivity, Cardinal sees ‘no theological obstacle’ to women priests. They are however connected by the underlying issue of gender difference. At one end of the Read more