Pope Benedict and Women: An Unworthy Legacy by Professor Denise Couture
/Pope Benedict and Women: An Unworthy Legacy
Professor Denise Couture | Le Devoir
13 January 2023
On December 31, 2022, the death of Pope Benedict XVI gave rise to numerous texts on the contribution of a man recognized by many as a great intellectual and a great theologian. But little mention has been made of one crucial element: his conception of the status of women. However, this has had a considerable impact on the anti-feminist policy of the Vatican for the past forty years.
The Second Vatican Council (1962-1965) opened the Roman Catholic Church to the world, however integrating into its decrees the conservative and progressive currents then in great tension. What would become of the Church after the council? Would it accept the principles of human rights, equality and non-discrimination within it? At the close of the council, these questions remained open.
Until the 1970s, the Catholic theology of the Holy See settled the question of the status of women in a few words. Their subordination was self-evident. This was social and also ecclesial, and it required no explanation.
After the Second Vatican Council and after the second feminist wave which took off in the same decade, the issue of the status of women became crucial for the leaders of the Vatican. Pope John Paul II (1978-2005) then set about the task of developing a theology of women which ran for several hundred pages. This political theology justifies the subordination of women to men, the absolute prohibition of contraception and abortion, and the exclusion of women from the priesthood, and therefore from governance in the Church, because they are women.
“ This political theology justifies the subordination of women to men, the absolute prohibition of contraception and abortion, and the exclusion of women from the priesthood, and therefore from governance in the Church, because they are women.”
Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith from 1981 to 2005 and right arm of Pope John Paul II, Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger actively participates in the construction of the contemporary patriarchal policy of the Vatican. Having become Pope Benedict XVI (2005-2013), he pursued it and consolidated it. His successor, Pope Francis, reiterates it to this day.
The man exposed his political theology on women and feminism in a dozen texts. Here are five significant statements.
First, Cardinal Ratzinger argued that woman is another 'I' in the order of humanity. ‘In its deepest and most original being, [she] exists 'for the other' (2004). He maintains that the principle of help is inscribed by God in the nature of woman as an immutable anthropological datum.
Then he believes that the specific characteristic of women is to give birth. It is his "psycho-physical" constitution which corresponds to the eternal will of God. Female identity is "linked to her physical capacity to give life" (2004).
On this point, Cardinal Ratzinger justified his view with these words: ‘the complementarity of the sexes’ is ‘an obvious truth’. One ‘cannot erase from the human mind [the] certainty’ of the existence of ‘two persons of different sexes’ (2003).
According to him, feminism is dangerous. First, feminism considers ‘differences between the sexes as cultural conditionings so that it denies their biological determinations’; then it breaks the harmony between men and women causing the woman to ‘set herself up as the rival of the man’ (2004). Feminism poses such a threat, writes Benedict XVI, that it signifies a ‘self-destruction of man [sic] and therefore a destruction of the work of God himself’ (2009, emphasis in text).
“This is the current discourse and contemporary policy of Vatican leaders endorsed by Pope Francis.”
Finally, in his view, women do not have access to priestly ordination, but this does not constitute discrimination, because for there to be one, the action would have to correspond to an unjust law. However, this is not the case with regard to the different roles exercised by men and women, since they are willed by God (2003).
A case that arouses indignation
This is the current discourse and contemporary policy of Vatican leaders endorsed by Pope Francis.
The contemporary Vatican patriarchy has a deleterious effect on Catholic women, but also on all women in the world. The Holy See has the status of an observer state at the UN, where it exercises a certain influence. Globally, it is heavily criticized by forces within the Catholic Church. You may consult on this subject the criticisms of Quebec feminist groups, such as Femmes et Ministères.org and L’autre Parole.
“The Holy See is part of a set of current autocratic regimes, state or religious, which trample on the rights of women and keep them in the position of minors. The Vatican leadership deserves strong and explicit opposition from democratic states and human rights organizations.”
From my point of view as a feminist analyst of religions, I wish to underline the diplomatic skill of the Vatican leaders, who got away with very little criticism from outside their organization about their policy of subordinating women.
The Holy See is part of a set of current autocratic regimes, state or religious, which trample on the rights of women and keep them in the position of minors. The Vatican leadership deserves strong and explicit opposition from democratic states and human rights organizations.
The legacy of Pope Benedict XVI regarding the status of women in society and in the Church is causing great outrage.
-Denise Couture is Full Professor (retired) at the Institute of Religious Studies, University of Montreal.
Denise Couture is Full Professor (retired) at the Institute of Religious Studies, University of Montreal.
