And the survey says ...

THANK YOU FOR THE SEPTEMBER READER SURVEY ("HAVE we come a long way, baby?") by Heidi Schlumpf. I am encouraged by seeing a Catholic publication reporting with honesty and integrity the truth about Catholic thought regarding the need for women's equality in the church.

In light of the Vatican's recent Letter to Bishops of the Catholic Church on the Collaboration of Men and Women in the Church and in the World, your survey helps demonstrate how out of touch the church hierarchy is in regard to both the perspectives of the people in the pews as well as a quarter-century of theological discourse. Contrary to the voices in Rome that say women may not be priests, your survey results represent the mainstream Catholic opinion that supports women's ordination.

We must remind ourselves of the canon law that states lay Catholics have a right and responsibility to share our views with church authorities--even if these are "dissenting" views. We should no longer be silenced on an issue as important as women's call to the priesthood.

I was surprised, however, to discover so many readers' misconceptions about feminism. The Vatican continues to perpetuate misunderstandings about feminism as well. Feminism embraces the Christian value of equality, where all people--women and men--are treated with respect, dignity, and value. Catholic feminists derive our understanding of equality from the gospel imperative that calls all Christians to speak out and act on behalf of the poor and oppressed. This includes creating a renewed priestly ministry open to both women and men.

Joy Barnes, executive director

Women's Ordination Conference

Fairfax, Va.

Your monthly survey articles are usually very interesting, but I think it's a shame that they cover such a teeny percentage of Catholics. The count is usually somewhere between 150 and 300 people, this one being 220. Naturally the people who feel the strongest about an issue respond to these surveys in greater numbers than those who really don't care about it, and their strength of feeling can create misconceptions. For instance, the mother who says her daughters are angry and think the ordination ban is an injustice is most likely the one who is angry herself so she has trained her girls to be angry, too.

I can't help but wonder what the actual percentage is of Catholic women who really have a concern about the "role of women in the church." I think in reality most of us are probably pretty content with things the way they are.

I've asked several of my friends, and we all think the church treats us just fine, thank you very much! As far as women priests go--I think the church has the right idea in following the example Jesus gave by choosing only men as apostles, and I just hope she sticks to her guns and will never allow women priests. At least not until after I'm gone. I shudder at the thought of saying, "Bless me, Fatheress!"

Rita Conley

Sicklerville, N.J.