Catholic women who press on

Re “10 years of Francis, the most California of popes,” March 12

Rosa Manriquez, who was quoted extensively in your article on Pope Francis’ 10 years in power, is a member of the Immaculate Heart Community, of which I am also a member. Bishop Jane Via, also quoted, is a former member.

They both exemplify the path that women have taken when denied participation in the call to Holy Orders.

Women being denied their rights is a global issue, not just a Catholic one. Witness the women who have taken to the streets to assert their rights in the face of male oppression and domination in the political arena.

Let us hope that the voices of women will be heard in the Catholic Church and in the larger global community so that someday, justice will prevail and women will no longer be subject to the power and authority of men standing in their way.

Creative women will look for alternative ways to exercise their calls to work for a more just and peaceful world — with or without men alongside them. Lenore Navarro Dowling

Los Angeles

Nothing exemplifies Francis’ papacy more than his answer to a question about gay men in the clergy: “Who am I to judge?”

It was a very down-toearth, meek answer. However, according to Lumen Gentium, a document of the Second Vatican Council, which Pope Francis advocates, “The Roman Pontiff, by reason of his office as Vicar of Christ, and as pastor of the entire Church has full, supreme, and universal power over the whole Church, a power which he can always exercise unhindered.”

As such, this pope is empowered and expected use his authority to judge, one way or another, and to lead his flock with clear guidance.

It’s no wonder that the church, both the hierarchy and the laity, has now been hopelessly and needlessly confused and divided. Kee Kim La Habra