Promise and Challenge: Catholic Women Reflect on Feminism, Complementarity, and The Church. Kinda says it all, doesn’t it? In this book a group of distinguished, faithful, Catholic women scholars take Pope Francis’ call for a deeper theology of women and run with it. They reflect on what such a theology would look like and where the feminine genius is needed in the Church today.
They go in some surprising directions. A couple of essays tackle the question of a “theology of men”, arguing that a theology of women demands a corresponding look at men. One can only be as good and thorough as the other. We are complementary sexes, after all. My favorite essay seeks to translate Church teaching on sexuality in terms that a stereotypical radical second-wave feminist would understand, framing it largely in terms of social justice.
If you’re a theology and women’s issues nerd like I am, this is definitely a book to be read and then placed in your reference pile. Quotes from this book will be found on this blog and on the John Paul II Center for Women’s FB and Twitter pages in coming months.
If you are one who wonders how the heck an intelligent, successful woman can stand by the Catholic Church in 2016, this book could help you with some answers if you approach it with an open mind.
This book is available now at your favorite bookseller. I got it a month ago at my semi-annual trip to Catholic Supply of St. Louis. (Just a shout out to home! I miss you guys!)
This book review originally appeared on True Dignity of Women.
2 thoughts on “Promise and Challenge: Catholic Women Scholars Take On Feminism and Complementarity”
Nice review, bit of a teaser though. I want to learn more. Guess I’ll have to buy the book
Sounds like a good book for an all-girls Catholic High School religion / sociology class.