Here’s an example of the contorted theological cogitations that we have come to expect from the loony left. Apparently, it is now kosher for a prominent leftist Catholic writer to question the gender of Jesus. Here’s a real sidesplitter from Joan Chittister’s latest column:
Jesus became “man” we are now supposed to say — despite the fact that for centuries we said, “And the Word became “flesh” — as in human. Now, we mean what we mean. The Word became man. Male. No argument about that one. They tell us that they mean “woman,” too, when they say “man,” of course. Except not always.
Well, if we are going to doubt Jesus’s masculinity on the basis of the phrase “And the Word became flesh,” then why not question his humanity as well? After all, “flesh” isn’t just the unique property of human beings - animals have it, too. So, if Chittister’s reasoning is correct, then why should we confine the incarnation of Jesus to a human body? Is it possible that the Word became incarnate in, say, a chipmunk?
Continuing in the same vein of nonsense, Chittister says:
In the middle of the Rhine River, on the St. Lawrence Seaway, on a boat on a river in Pittsburgh, women who feel called by God to serve the people of God are being ordained beyond legitimate diocesan boundaries. Why? Because they have no other choice. There’s nothing they can do about it. They have no authority to open the theological discussion of whether or not Jesus became “man” — meaning male — or Jesus became “flesh” — meaning human — and the implications of that answer for the life and structures of the church itself.
Now Chittester claims that the wackjob feminists who performed illicit ordinations in direct defiance of their ecclesiastical superiors had “no other choice.”
Sure. Right. They were probably forced into those actions in the same sense as your average feminist is driven to consume countless cups of mocha-latte. They weren’t given no choice in the matter; they were just displaying typical moonbat* behavior, as moonbats tend to do.
* moonbat - my new favorite term for leftist nutcases.
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September 9, 2006 at 3:08 pm
What is sad is that in many Catholic academic circles Sr. Joan and her ideas are par for the course.
September 10, 2006 at 5:07 pm
You never see chipmunks concerned with this sort of thing. No jealous attempts to move up a niche in the ecosystem. But then again they eat nuts for survival.
Humor aside whether flesh or man, that has little to do with women in the priesthood.
September 10, 2006 at 11:12 pm
I don’t see her connection between to what happened with the ordinations on the grand scale, but I do think that she has a point when trying to differentiate “man” and “flesh”, only in the sense that the prologue to St. John’s Gospel does, in fact, say “flesh” in the original Greek (sarx). Sarx, by its common usage, is inclusive of all flesh without male/female distinction. It is also radically orthodox in affirming Chalcedonian theology.
Just some thoughts…
September 11, 2006 at 12:52 am
LP,
I think you are right. “Flesh” is perfectly orthodox, as is “man.” I don’t think it follows that using “flesh” necessarily leads one to women’s ordination, and orthodox Catholics certainly shouldn’t quit speaking of the “Word Became Flesh” because it is very biblical.
September 11, 2006 at 7:04 am
I understand (I think) what she is trying to say… But, there is a certain ridiculousness to taking that man vs. flesh argument to the extreme, as has been pointed out.
As to the ‘no other choice’ argument - B.S., there are plenty of other denominations that will gladly ordain women. They have many choices! But your point is valid in that they are in defiance of their ecclesiastical superiors. It seems that some want to have it both ways.
Oh, and I like ‘moonbats’, but can I use it for rightist nutcases as well? Seems like there are quite a few nutcases on both sides (and in all denominations:)
September 14, 2006 at 10:07 am
Great post! I totally love Sr Chittister - gives me a few giggles!