Women have always been at the heart of the sacraments and the sacramental life of the Catholic Church. In the real world where Catholics participate in the Eucharist and the Eucharistic life of the parish/community, women are the backbone. But their ministry is, too often, erased — unrecognized, and undervalued in that they do not receive the same official sanction as male ministers – yielding both sacramental grace and authority for their ministry. Dr. Susan A. Ross, argues that when it comes to the sacraments, the requirements of Catholic social justice have not applied, a disjuncture that severely limits the transformative power of the Eucharist and our common sacramental life. Yet, she also calls attention to what is changing – mapping the opportunities for transformation and emerging realities that are currently redefining our common sacramental life.
Women Erased: Talking Truth About Sacraments with Susan Ross, Ph.D.
