A picture that tells where women are in the Catholic Church

The picture and the text below

are from The Irish Catholic newspaper. Words say a lot and a picture is worth a thousand words, so goes the adage, at least before Photoshop appeared.

But this picture is the perfect example of how the church sees women. That The Irish Catholic actually published this picture tells its own story about the newspaper.

This picture is a brilliant display of what is going on.

One might say it is always the little things that give us a way. This picture might be a little thing but what it says is enormous. Indeed, it is an objectionable, patronising picture. It’s even laughable.  It’s truly bizarre.

Even if the clerics did not have their backs to those present it might not be so objectionable. So much for the Catholic Church press offices.

Below is the text from The Irish Catholic newspaper:

Almost 500 women gathered in Donegal for the ‘Abide in His love’ conference. The event aimed to celebrate the “beauty and dignity of women in the Church and in the world today,” with guest speakers the Nashville Dominican Sisters, Fr Barry Braum (London), Kathleen Nichols and Celine Kelly (Magdala, Israel), Bishop Kevin Doran of Elphin, Catherine DiNuzzo (Kansas), among others.

Speaking to The Irish Catholic after taking part in the event, Fr Todd Arsenault LC, shared that he was “overjoyed at the tangible action of the Holy Spirit in women of all ages that attended and pray that this is only the beginning of a new evangelisation among the women of Ireland.”

“This weekend of joy, of tears, of friendship and of spiritual renewal, released a wave of God’s grace for the benefit of the local Church in Ireland and in the families of each of these women,” said Fr Todd noting the fruits of this event.

Michelle Kelly (24), one of the attendants, saw this event as a sign of hope to the Church in Ireland, “It was so encouraging to see almost 500 women of all ages attend, and to know that hope is on the rise for Catholics in Ireland. If almost 500 women will travel all the way up to Donegal for a weekend event, imagine how many more of us there are across the country!”

According to Fr Todd priests spent most of their time listening to confessions and renewing “dignity as the Father’s beloved daughters to each.” With excitement the priest added, “The Holy Spirit was working in the lives of the women present! From the amazing and dynamic conferences that encouraged, motivated, shaped and inspired the women to ongoing conversion, holiness of life and hope.”