THE PLACE AND ROLE OF WOMEN IN THE CATHOLIC CHURCH: A STUDY BASED ON THE CODE OF CANON LAW AND THE CODE OF CANONS OF THE EASTERN CHURCHES

Abstract

Although Pope John Paul II taught through his apostolic letter Ordinatio Sacerdotalis (1994) that the Catholic Church is unable to ordain women to priesthood, the Catholic Church gives a special place to women in it, and a survey of the Code of Canon Law (CIC 1983) and the Code of Canons of the Eastern Churches (CCEO 1990) shows that there is a marked improvement in the Catholic Canon Law regarding the place and role of women in the Catholic Church. Whereas the Pio-Benedictine Code (CIC 1917) did not consider men and women as having the same rights and duties in the Church, the fundamental equality of men and women is acknowledged in the canons of the new Codes. The author argues that there is no violation of fundamental rights of women in the prohibition to ordain women to priesthood. At the same time, the article highlights the clarion call the Pope Francis to have a special role for the “Feminine Genius” within the Catholic Church.