Let's defend the Truth

A)  The text of the speech by J.M.Bergoglio:

“Our Lady, Mary, was more important than the Apostles, than bishops and deacons and priests…… Women, in the Church, are more important than bishops and priests; how, this is something we have to try to explain better, because I believe that we lack a theological explanation of this. Thank you” (Answer of Bergoglio to the question of the journalist Ana Fereira , during the press conference on the return flight – Papal Flight Sunday, 28 July 2013)

B) References to Scriptures:

“You it was who created Adam, you who created Eve his wife to be his help and support; and from these two the human race was born. You it was who said, ‘It is not right that the man should be alone; let us make him a helper like him” (Tob 8:6)

“During instruction, a woman should be quiet and respectful. I give no permission for a woman to teach or to have authority over a man. A woman ought to be quiet” (1Ti 2:12)

“But I should like you to understand that the head of every man is Christ, the head of woman is man, and the head of Christ is God” (1Co 11:3)

C) Comment:

Bergoglio’s statement on the role of women in the Church is wrong. One thing is to talk about Mary, of Her Holiness and perfection, even compared to the Apostles; another thing is to talk, in general, about the role of women compared to the ministers of God in the life of the Church.

The roles and duties are all important, but different.

It cannot be said that “the woman in the Church is more important than the bishops and priests“. This statement is wrong and misleading.

The woman has a fundamental role in the history of God. She was created to be of help and support to the man; the figure and the role of the woman must be well understood. And the comprehension of the role of the woman in the Project of God is full in Mary, example of the perfect woman, that every woman who loves God should desire to imitate, in the fullness.

The woman, by the example of Mary, should be characterized for the service and the complement with prayer, humble, strong, sweet and simple.

Mary has sustained and supported Jesus and the Apostles in the execution of Their mission, always in the spirit of service and in prayer, demonstrating absolute fidelity to the Project of God.

So, as Mary has helped Christ in totality, every woman, even in the Church, is called to help the man, that has to perform in holiness, his own task and role, that is not less important than the woman’s.