Women are faced with daunting task of juggling family, house, relationships, and career. Though I feel this was much easier when communities were tight clans of trusted family and friends who helped with childrearing and day-to-day dramas of life. Today, many women are not only alienated from their families because of cross-country moves, but they are also juggling a demanding career that most likely still produces guilt for time stolen from family. I often wonder if men ever struggle with this same guilt while they build their careers. There are also many women who are raising their families alone. The father sometimes abandons her and other times she chooses for her own well being to end a bad relationship. Either way, it is not easy to raise a family alone – yet so many women do it everyday. These women are some of strongest women I’ve ever come across and I applaud their fortitude and sheer will.

Women are beautiful. I’ll give that much to stereotypical chauvinists. We are beautiful on outside AND on inside. We are also so much more. We are meek yet highly intelligent. We are masters of organization and free spirited lovers of nature. We are nurturers of young and hardnosed bitches of boardroom. We are serious about building a financially solid future yet have no problem spending a hefty chunk on a pair of quality shoes. Are we a paradox? No, we’re just a multi-faceted life form capable of a variety of roles at same time.

So here’s to you woman! I lift my cup up in your honor. You can be anything you want to be now. That is an awesome statement that your mother or grandmother could not have said with surety that you can say it. Our future looks just as bright as our past is dark. Ching! (wine glasses clinking together) Have a great Women’s History Month.

I think it is important to recognize culture from which Paul is speaking. In fact, Paul was a Roman citizen. He was raised in type of backward culture we have already acknowledged as crude and uncivilized by today’s standards and his remarks on this subject are no doubt a result of his cultural upbringing.

The Church has always accommodated change as humanity has grown and matured. Even Pope John Paul II, who passed this week, met with leaders of countries who were far from Christian. He met with Islamic leaders, Jewish leaders, and even rock stars like Bono from U2. These are all people Church would have condemned or even burned at stake for their heretical beliefs or ungodly actions during The Middle Ages.

Likewise, it is time for Catholic Church to mature to level of accepting that women are equally viable as a candidate for priesthood as men. The times of believing women are on a lesser plane - whether intellectually, socially, or spiritually – are long over and Vatican would do well to acknowledge this fact.

The Church’s churlish remarks on women serving in role of a priest are dated and a clear demonstration of need for a more progressive Pope that will be more responsive to changing times and to disenfranchised women of Catholic Church, whose ministerial participation has dropped significantly over last few decades.

I pray soul of Pope John Paul II finds peace and comfort in Kingdom of Heaven. He deserves so much for his sacrifice and service to Church and to God,

I also pray next Pope will override John Paul II’s remarks on women in priesthood and allow Church step into 21st century. If this happens, perhaps one day we will have a female Pope. Now that would be something to praise God about.