An Indian feminist has much to say on the gender gap on her subcontinent. It’s faintly amusing to see the cause taken up by American conservatives. Do they realize how sex-selective abortions relate to a basic sexism in the world’s male-dominated cultures? It’s no curious thing that decriminalizing abortion in the US was pushed by the Republican Party and its backers in the 1960’s. There’s money to be made in playing on people’s fears and misinformation.
The Catholic Church in India has the best opportunity to introduce awareness programmes through the wide network of parishes and educational institutions. But we have to lead by example.
The general attitude towards women in the Church gives women the strong message that they are indeed second class. Women have no voice or decision making in the Church. A bishop summed it up best when, during a tea break of an awareness session on the girl child, he said to me privately: “The situation of the girl child will change only when she can become a bishop!”
Awake, my brothers and sisters in the Church, here is an opportunity to give India the true image of the girl child whom we believe is made in the image and likeness of God. She must be allowed to live life in abundance.
Let us lead by example – by using every avenue available to change attitudes and demonstrate that we value women enough to give them responsibility and leadership in the Church because we believe this to be the true message of Jesus.
Every avenue indeed. Not just the whitebread American notion of morality.
Catholic Sensibility 