Pope washes women's feet in break with church law

[AikidoSoul]

129. "....we live in antinomian times."

I'm uncertain that the changing of laws is really the topic of concern. The case of the washing of feet on Holy Thursday of young, incarcerated women, is more like breaking the rules... not the laws, nor setting precedent for any law. It's much more like setting an example of what a humble Christ would do. And consistently behaving in ways that Christ would... is taking responsibility.... the opposite positon of "antinomian" view which is essentially evading responsibility.

This kind of behavior is rarely seen. I've been a Catholic since a child, and was even in a convent for a time...but left.

An inspiring leader can do more to change unfair rules or laws by simply by his or her own public behavior. The new pope merely broke unjust rules in a very public way. The pope's actions are scrutinized and published all over the world. The spotlight is always on him wherever he goes.

If you think of the greatest leaders -- they were the ones who practiced "civil disobedience." This incident doesn't meet that test exactly, but he did break the rules.

What he did has shaken things up... and has inspired millions of women and others who are hoping to find fundamental justice and fairness in our world.

Many of us, like myself, had given up on the Catholic faith because of its rigid patriarchal view of the inferiority of women.

It's scandalous that they have done this for thousands of years.

Examine the process of the many interpretations of scriptures over the centuries. It's a continuing scandal for scholars when they examine the political / economic motives behind most of these interpretations. After awhile it becomes clear that men wanted to grasp onto, wield, and protect their power over all things. Women were things to them, and that is the main thrust of their value system. Not all... but most.

They also buried ideas that they somehow considered to be against economic interests....not much different than the politics that exist today!

Respectfully submitted... and welcome to DU!!