Pope Francis News: Catholic Leader Talks Equal Rights for Women
Pope Francis talked about equal rights for women during his catechetical reflection on marriage and family at his weekly General Audience in St. Peter's Square on Wednesday, according to the Vatican Radio.
"The Christian seed of radical equality between men and women must bring new fruits," The Holy Father said calling the gender gap disparity "pure scandal."
"At the same time," Pope Francis said, "we must recognize the maternity of women and the paternity of men as a perennially valid treasure, for the benefit of children."
He talked about the disparity between marriages stating that more families are separating and less people are being married.
"These broken marriage bonds affect the young most of all, as they come to view marriage as something temporary," Pope Francis said. "Perhaps there is a fear of failure which prevents men and women from trusting in Christ's promise of grace in marriage and in the family."
He added, "In truth we know that almost every man and woman desires a secure and lasting relationship, a stable marriage and a happy family."
According to Reuters, the United States Bureau data show that women earn 77 cents for every dollar a man makes. Pope Francis said Christians should "decisively support the right to equal pay for equal work."
The Holy Father wants women to play a greater role in the Roman Catholic Church around the world but says the "door is closed" to the possibility of women becoming priests.
The Church says women cannot become priests because Jesus chose that only men could be apostles. Yet, advocates of a female priesthood reject The Church's view saying that Jesus was just acting according to the norms of his times.
Meanwhile, the issue of equal pay for women has been a topic for the Catholic Church for some time, Washington Post reports.
Pope John Paul II addressed the issue of equal pay directly in a "letter to women" stating that there is an urgent need to achieve "real equality" in every area.
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