Gender Equality

  • The Church is not a ‘she’

    Recent Vatican documents on women’s diaconate rely heavily on nuptial theology, arguing that female ordination would compromise the spousal relationship between Christ and church. This reasoning transforms metaphorical language into doctrinal necessity, creating theological problems by literalizing what tradition presents as symbolic representation.

    The Church is not a ‘she’
  • Women cannot image Christ as deacons – Vatican

    Pope Francis elevated the Final Synod Document to magisterial teaching, stating that discernment on women deacons must continue and “what comes from the Holy Spirit cannot be stopped.” Yet this new commission report attempts to close discussion entirely.

    Women cannot image Christ as deacons – Vatican
  • Church reform may come sooner

    Shared Decision Making. Equality for All Genders. Optional Celibacy. Positive Sexual Morality. A Welcome for All. These five demands once branded us as troublemakers. Now they surface in every serious reform conversation worldwide. Prophetic voices don’t stay silent—they become the conversation.

    Church reform may come sooner
  • From first witness to fallen woman: the rewriting of Mary Magdalene

    Names like Mary Magdalene and Photini, the Samaritan woman known as the first Evangelist, reveal a deep yet suppressed tradition of women leaders. Their stories challenge a Church that still struggles to welcome women as full partners in ministry, governance and proclamation.

    From first witness to fallen woman: the rewriting of Mary Magdalene
  • Younger clergy out of step with Catholic laity

    If young priests aggressively advance their conservative agenda, church alienation could grow. With lay opinion trending progressive, the gap may further depress Catholic identity and parish life.

    Younger clergy out of step with Catholic laity
  • Fruits of the Spirit: Two female Archbishops in two months in Britain

    Two women now lead at the highest level in Anglicanism. Sarah Mullally in Canterbury and Cherry Vann in Wales arrive with deep pastoral experience and hard-earned credibility. Their appointments are news; after a moment’s reflection, they also feel inevitable—grounded in proven, practical leadership.

    Fruits of the Spirit: Two female Archbishops in two months in Britain
  • A Divine Calling exposes the cost of clerical disdain

    There is pain here, but not bitterness; a Sisyphean struggle, but also joy and humour. The contrast between a rich vocation and the obtuseness that blocks it would be farce if it were not so serious for the People of God.

    A Divine Calling exposes the cost of clerical disdain
  • The burden borne by poor women

    Women, Leo points out, suffer disproportionately from poverty, violence, and exclusion. Quoting Pope Francis, he affirms their dignity and heroic witness. Yet, the exhortation raises questions about whether the church’s actions match its words on gender equality.

    The burden borne by poor women
  • Is the Church allowed to ordain men?

    For centuries, women have led priestly ministry in the Roman Catholic Church. Vaticanelle, a parody, imagines Pope Sister Martha and her Synodal Council debating whether men could be ordained. From the outset, she insists priesthood for men is not a serious expectation.

    Is the Church allowed to ordain men?
  • Tradition or submission: Tradwives and new media spotlight

    The “tradwife” debate is not only about fashion or lifestyle. It touches faith, gender, and culture. With younger generations watching, the Church faces a choice: to embrace diversity of expression or allow tradition to dominate the conversation again.

    Tradition or submission: Tradwives and new media spotlight

Get Flashes of Insight

We respect your email privacy

Donate

All services bringing Flashes of Insight are donated.

Significant costs, such as those associated with site hosting, site design, and email delivery, mount up.

Flashes of Insight will shortly look for donations.