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FORMER PRESIDENT MARY McAleese has said that Pope Francis is a ‘lovely person’ but carries a ‘residual element of misogyny’ that stops him advancing the cause of women in the church.
In an interview to be broadcast on RTÉ radio’s Sunday Spirit this morning, McAleese speaks of her fondness for the Pontiff but says he is ‘blind’ to improving women’s role in the church.
She suggests that some of this may come from his experiences in the priesthood:
There is a blindness here that comes from a kind of a priestly formation that leaves so many good decent gentlemanly men like Francis still carrying an element, a residual element of misogyny that closes them off to the dangers of not dealing with these issues.
McAleese, who moved to Rome to study canon law after leaving the Presidency and published a book on the Second Vatican Council, says the church often makes the mistake of thinking these issues are all about women priests.
“Many of them think that, if they go there, they think its to do with the ordination of women. It’s not. It’s an issue alight but it’s by no means THE issue.”
The two-term former president goes on today to explain that the main problem is that women don’t have a voice in the church.
Specifically, there is no way for women’s views to be transferred up the chain of command in the catholic church.
“Leaving aside the issue of orders or being involved in the work of priesthood,” she cautions.
“I’m talking about an altogether different phenomenon and that is the structure of a universal church that comprises 1.2 billion people, half of whom are women, and who do not have appropriate vehicles at parish, diocesan or universal level that fully respect the role they play in the church or could play in the church.”
McAleese comments come as Pope Francis hinted over the past couple of days that he may resign his papacy just like his predecessor Pope Benedict. Francis said his position as the head of the Catholic church may be a short one.
“I have the feeling that my pontificate will be brief. Four or five years, I do not know, even two or three,” he said.
Pope Francis has been seen as one of the most popular popes of recent times, seen as less dogmatic than other Pontiffs, even if the church’s views haven’t shifted dramatically.
This view seems to be shared by McAleese:
I think that’s where there’s a problem with Francis, I don’t think that he gets it. Still. He’s very gentlemanly, he’s a lovely person, everybody likes him and women like him. We love his smile, we love his openness, we love his accessibility, we love his frankness, we love the ease of him. But we also know that that’s not enough.
The interview will be broadcast on RTÉ Radio 1 Extra’s Sunday Spirit at 10am.
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Congratulations to all regardless of grade it is a major achievement. Good luck in the future.
@Gerard J. Hannan: Regardless of the grade? Don’t be encouraging the snowflake generation. Perhaps the junior cert result doesn’t really matter on the greater scheme of things,but it’s good platform to kick on to achieve good result in the leaving cert and further on into third level education.
@Gerard J. Hannan:
What would the major achievement be in failing every subject?
@Nick Allen: for some kids sticking it out and doing the exams is enough of an achievement.
“Partially Achieved” .. is that some kind of pc mumbo jumbo word for fail? So that young Kylie or Karter doesnt feel bad about not doing so well.. I partially achieved my goal of playing champions league football.. my mummy bought me a barca shirt and i ran around the local park..partially achieved, my arse!
@Frank Dowling:
Makes more sense than the use of the letters ‘E’ or ‘F’. At least now there is a description of what the result means
@sup: While the grades may not be used by many for job interviews, the exam itself is invaluable for teaching students exam prep, study skills , delayed gratification and time management. Even simple things like working towards long term goals and sitting down quietly in an exam hall for a set length of time without distracting others. Would you rather they only find out how to do these things at Leaving Cert level? . Surely part of growing up is learning how to deal with deadlines and pressure or would you rather our young people only met these things in the real world where they really do count?
I don’t agreee with you that the exam is based purely on rote learning without understanding a subject. Do you have experience teaching this or are you just looking back on your own experiences through the mists of time, or as a parent through the eyes of your exam bound child? Some basics in certain subjects benefit from being known by heart, for example spellings in a language or lines and spaces in music before understanding and enjoyment can flourish . When not overused, this can be a useful aid to learning for students. Also not every student has the maturity for critical thought at Junior Cert level. Sometimes we don’t enjoy certain subjects while at school, but may grow to appreciate their value later on. I personally hated geography, but that doesn’t mean I shouldn’t be taught about climate change and population in different countries. I think , while lively debate about education is good, we need to remember that seeking to protect our young people from challenges, gives them no opportunity to develop coping skills and resilience, traits they will definitely need in the real world
Absolutely pointless exam in this day and age. Junior cert results mean nothing to anyone outside of school and are forgotten by students and teachers about 2 weeks after results are given out.
Places unnecessary stress on teens at a time they’re already having to deal with the issues of puberty and growing up in today’s modern world. It’s an exam that places no emphasis on understanding or enjoying a subject, but on learning by rote.
@sup: Who was ever asked their Inter/Junior Cert results!
@sup:
Students gain valuable experience of the process of studying the syllabus and having a formal test at the end of it. It is great to be able to gain this without having the more severe implications of the Leaving certificate. Practice makes perfect and the more a child gets familiar with the exam process the better they get at it and the less stress they will bear
@Reg: I was when I went for an apprenticeship many many years ago.
A parent must recall how they were with alcohol as a teen. They must emphasise with their child and reach a middle ground. Out right banning of alcohol won’t work.
@Lily: your right. I have my teenager and a few of his friends coming over around 5. They are going to have a drink and pizza to celebrate. and their going home to their own houses at 9. No mention of going into town as it’ll be too messy.
There will be some messy very drunk teenagers in every town in Ireland tonight. A right of passage.
@mickmc: times are changing. Kids aren’t all morons who think that drinking is required for a celebration. Let’s not normalise it. It’s not a good thing.
@mickmc: It’s “rite” of passage.
Partially achieved!
@Martin Byrne: If anything kids are more idiotic than before. Much more underage drinking and sexual activity as increasingly lower ages.
@Leon:
Do you have kids? I have a son who sat the junior cert last year and another who is awaiting his results later today. We talk openly to them about alcohol and drugs and neither of them have any interest in going out on the lash. They also talk about drinking in school and they will readily admit that some drink, take drugs and smoke they say it is in the minority. My son and his friends laugh at the stupidity of other children who smoke. Where are you getting your evidence form?
@Nick Allen: Not to pass any aspirations on the good name of your children but some teenagers in general are like the rest of us, tell the world and it’s mother one thing while doing the opposite. I’m not sure my parents knew what I was up to as a teenagers, they never said anything if they did know. Perhaps a blind eye was turned.
@Cheeky Bums: I think that comment deserves a distinction mark !
@mickmc:
No blind eye turned. The full area of alcohol, drugs and sex scares the life out of me with my children. Hence the reason I talk to them and their friends very openly about it. A little mutual respect between parent and child goes a very long way.
@Nick Allen:
I recall my lady getting her junior cert results 2 years ago. We were on holiday in Spain she celebrated with a couple of cocktails a couple of days later it was her 16th birthday so we went out for a meal. She had a couple of glasses of wine.
He has been allowed to drink for a while, on the condition she didn’t get drunk.
One of her friends was smoking in 1st year and I said I wouldn’t stop her from seeing her friend, but she was not to smoke herself. The friendship fizzled out. She hates smoking,refused to speak to another friend for 2 weeks after seeing her smoke.
Generally all her friends drink alcohol, mostly they don’t get drunk* but everyone has their occasional whoopsie. Most have been going to pubs/over 18s discos from 16/17. I did the same at that age.
Congratulations to my younger sister who received 9 A’s and 1 B in all of her honours subjects (the B was in CSPE!!)
JUNIOR CERTIFICATE MATHS GRINDS https://locan.to/2227202378
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