Ordination of Women
It is interesting to note that the eminent Catholic scholar and theologian, Rev. Fr. Dr. John Wijngaards, MHM, L.S.S. (Rome), D. Th. (Rome) served as a Lecturer in St. John's Regional Seminary, Hyderabad from 1964-1976 during the archbishopric of Arulappa. He espoused the cause of women priests.
Although Archbishop Arulappa expressed his respect for women, he remained faithful to the stance taken by Rome regarding women's ordination. Speaking at the plenary of the Association of Theologically Trained Women of India (ATTWI), held at the Auditorium of Stanley Girls High School, Chapel Road, Hyderabad in the year 1999, he said that women in the Catholic Church were even given duties like Bible reading, offering communion, etc. and were also holding independent positions in religious orders and managing institutions.
Once, while addressing the Catholic Family Movement, he jocularly remarked that "God created man and rested. He created woman and neither God or man rested. That is the problem of all married people." On another occasion, he remarked that "Women are only asking for equality. I am one of those who say that women are actually superior to men !". Were the Archbishop remarks veiled references to his upbringing in a family of four sisters and a mother ?
Read more about this topic: Samineni Arulappa
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