Equality: A Radical Democratic Ekklesial Vision by Elisabeth Schüssler Fiorenza CTA Regional Contacts Upcoming Dates and Events around the Country Join CTA! CTA Home Page

November-December 1998 a  l e t t e r   f r o m  t h e  e d i t o r For 3,500 women and men at the 1998 CTA conference, Elisabeth Schüssler Fiorenza's keynote speech could not have been more timely. In a year when Vatican reassertions of patriarchal domination are bringing Catholics, especially women, near despair, the world-renowned scholar thrilled her audience with the biblical and historical basis for continuing to say "we are Church" as the egalitarian and democratic people of God. Her talk was alive with a spirituality for the long struggle to reform the Church. "Struggle is a name for hope," she insisted. With both eloquence and puckish humor, she stressed the importance of language. Her striking synonym for the people of God, "the ekklesia of wo/men", sounded exclusive of men, until she reminded us with a twinkling eye that she was using wo/men in the generic sense to include men, just as the word she includes he and female includes male! Time for us males to experience what women have endured for ages -- being addressed in terms that require us to figure out if we are included! Bill Thompson, Editor P.S. Full report of the 1998 conference -- pictures, articles, interviews and tape order form -- coming in December CTA News.