BIBLIOGRAPHY ON WOMEN FROM WOMEN FOR FAITH & FAMILY'S
COMMENTARY ON THE SECOND DRAFT OF THE NCCB'S PROPOSED PASTORAL ON WOMEN
The works listed below contain valuable psychological, anthropological,
theological, and philosophical insight into the nature, ethos and vocation of
woman and man. Each work contradicts feminist tenets; instead each contributes
an authentic articulation of the role of woman in modern society and in the
Church.
The list is hardly comprehensive, but suggests important works which should
have been consulted by the pastoral committee. Only one of these works, Women
in the Priesthood? by Fr. Manfred Hauke, was among the bibliographical
references in the text of the draft.
Only eight of the pastoral's sixty-four citations (excluding papal documents)
supported Church teachings. [See appendix II.] Of these eight, only four were
references to works of Catholic authors. One Orthodox and three Protestant
authors were referenced in support of Catholic teaching (three on ordination to
the priesthood, one on "inclusive" language). There is no indication that the
pastoral committee utilized the work of important orthodox Catholic theologians
such as Dr. Joyce Little of the University of St. Thomas in Houston or Donald
Keefe, SJ of Marquette University.
Of the remaining fifty-six works, twenty were from secular sources (including
feminist works and neutral statistical reports), and at least twenty-four were
from authors known to be Catholic feminists and/or dissenters.
Notable omissions from the following list are Pope John Paul II's recent
Apostolic letters, his trilogy developing the "theology of the body," several
important classic writings on theology and spirituality by or about women, and
secular and non-Catholic works of anthropology, psychology and theology
relevant to the draft pastoral.
ENCYCLICALS AND PAPAL WRITINGS
Leo XIII. Aracanum: On Christian Marriage, in The Papal Encyclicals, ed.
Claudia Carlen, 5 vols., McGrath Publishing Co., 1981, 2, pp. 29-40.
Pius X. Ad Diem illum Laetissimum: On the Immaculate Conception, in The Papal
Encyclicals, ed. Claudia Carlen, 5 vols, McGrath Publishing Co., 1981, 3, pp.
11-18.
Pius XI. Casti Connubi: On Christian Marriage, 3, pp. 391-414.
Pius XII. Sacra Virginitas: On Sacred Virginity, 4, pp. 237-248. Ad Caeli
Regenam: Proclaiming the Queenship of Mary, 4, pp. 223-236.
John Paul II. Original Unity of Man and Woman, Daughters of St. Paul, Boston,
1986.
John Paul II. Love and Responsibility, tr. H.T. Willets, 1981.
A compendium of his work on the phenomenology of the sexual urge and conjugal
love. This work is primary because of its profound discussion concerning the
insidious nature of artificial birth control and the resulting reification of
the female in relationships where artificial contraception is practised.
BOOKS
Arnold, Francis Xavier. Man and Woman: Their Nature and Mission. New York,
1963.
A seminal work on Christian anthropology and phenomenology. Father Arnold takes
for his foundation Pius XI's encyclical, Casti Connubi, which emphasizes that
both the laywoman and the layman are fully included in the universal priesthood
of the New Covenant.
