From ................ National Catholic Reporter

January 17, 1997

page 23

Response to Dulles

These are a few thoughts on Fr. Avery Dulles' response to the [papal ban on women priests, NCR, July 26]. ....

I cannot believe Jesus was an intentional excluder. Perhaps even St. Paul, who counseled women to observe the customary decorum of the time, foresaw their eventual equality when he wrote in Galatians, 3:28,

"There does not exist among you Jew or Greek, slave or freeman, male or female. All are one in Christ Jesus."

I would be greatly saddened to see the Catholic church follow the example of the Greek Orthodox church, for instance, which has preserved the-old ways to such an extent that their ceremonies have all the relevancy to modern life of museum pieces.

ROSEMARY VALTAKIS Grants Pass, Ore.

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