council of catholic women

Church Needs True Femininity of Women

By Henrietta Gomes
HERALD Staff Writer
(From the Issue of 3/15/07)

MANASSAS — New tactics must be used in order to win the battle against the culture of death, said Father Richard Hogan last Saturday morning to participants of the Arlington Diocesan Council of Catholic Women conference held at All Saints Parish in Manassas.
The current strategies of the pro-life movement are not as affective because, “We’re fighting in the wrong arena,” he said. “It’s as if the New York Yankees were playing against the New York Giants.” Comparing playing football against baseball to pro-lifers against proponents of the culture of death, the priest said, “We’re fighting a spiritual war with worldly techniques.”
He explained the conflict of a batter trying to hit a football, or a defensive lineman tackling a pitcher. Father Hogan, who is involved with Natural Family Planning Outreach said, “It’s not a political, economic or social war, but a spiritual war. We can’t defeat the devil with political, economic or social weapons. We have to use spiritual weapons.”
The entire culture of death is based on the pro-choice ideology, which is derived from a fundamental error, said Father Hogan. “It means we get to do whatever we want … .The choice argument leads to tyranny.” He said it’s about whoever has the most power. “This is choice run amuck. It makes us God … Culture of death is driven by the lie of Satan,” said the Minneapolis priest during his talk interspersed with humor and storytelling. Father Hogan, who is the co-author of books on the theology of the late Pope John Paul II said, “There has to be a Catholic ecclesial solution.” The solution is that, “We have to become saints … . We’re going to win this through holiness,” he said. “We have to get a lot holier quickly.”
It is the “genius of women” that can reverse the current morally depraved spiritual climate of society, he said. “Women understand what it means to foster life … You have an ability that is feminine and the Church needs it desperately.”
The conference, titled “The Authentic Feminine Genius in Action,” was based on the teachings of John Paul II’s writings to women. The all-day event included talks revolving around the role of women in the Church and a Mass celebrated by Arlington Bishop Paul S. Loverde. It drew 200 women from around the diocese ages 19 and up, said Liz Schiavone, council president. “We’re trying to build the culture of life,” she said, regarding the council’s mission.
Other speakers included Mother Shaun Vergauwen, co-founder of the Franciscan Sisters of the Eucharist, who spoke on “Hope and the Feminine.” During her talk she incorporated teachings from John Paul’s Theology of the Body and discussed the spiritual phases of virgin, bride, spouse, and mother and how women are called to live these “cycles of femininity,” constantly.
Cathy Cleaver Ruse addressed the women about authentic freedom. “Post-modern man sees obedience to God as hindering freedom,” she said, noting that human freedom and divine law are part and parcel. Ruse is the former chief spokesperson on human life issues for the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops and now continues promoting the dignity of life. Referring to authentic freedom as “inherently relational,” she said. “Freedom requires solidarity with fellow man.” Echoing the words of John Paul, she said becoming truly human is becoming a servant. “We are made for others.”
It was a day of renewal and encouragement for the women who attended the conference. Many were inspired to live out their call as women in the Church. “Father Hogan’s talk cut right to the heart,” said Catie Weasler, who recently moved to the diocese from San Francisco. “It was a wake-up call to start getting holy. It cleared out some of the junk in my heart and helped me to refocus on what's important.”
Carolyn LaRosa, parishioner from St. Mary of Sorrows Parish in Fairfax, also felt inspired by the priest’s talk. “We have seen what prayer can do and we need to get back to that … there is power in prayer.” The conference helped LaRosa recognize the strength of women in the Church. “Women are a strong force,” she said. “Through our leadership and setting an example, we can turn the tide.”
After the conference, Susan Boling, a member of the Archdiocese for the Military Services in Washington, said the event helped her view “freedom in a tangible way … the view of freedom has become so skewed.” The conference, she said, clarified the “vision of freedom and called us to respond to that.”
For more information about the council to purchase copies of the talks go to http://home.catholicweb.com/ADCCW/.

Henrietta Gomes can be reached at hgomes@catholicherald.com.