I was reading a blog this morning where the writer commented that he disagreed with the Catholic Church on “women’s rights- female priests and birth control.”

Perhaps the issues of female priests and birth control are a contentious issue because they are designated as women’s rights.

Aren’t these issues that effect us all?

If we continue to view the ordination of women strictly as a women’s issue, then ordination will never happen.  Our only chance of ordaining women is in our realizing that this is not an issue that effects only women, but it effects all of us, regardless of gender.

Or let’s look at birth control. Last I checked, men and women alike are involved in the process of making babies. By continuing to label birth control as a women’s issue, we continue the cycle of sexism, making women disproportionately own up to the responsibility of birth control. (note: this is all coming from a very North American, heterosexist point of view, admittedly). If birth control was looked at as an issue that concerns all members of the faithful, not just those who can potentially get pregnant, what a difference that would make!

I am reminded of the quote, “If you have come here to help me, you are wasting your time. But if you have come because your liberation is bound up with mine, then let us work together.” (Attributed to Lila Watson).

By continuing to label these issues as “women’s issues,” we are implying that their continuation only affects women. This could not be farther from the truth. Wouldn’t women’s ordination greatly affect all members of the faithful, regardless of gender?

We must begin to look at these issues as human issues, not women’s issues.