WOMEN

                                 POST VATICAN II
  "The  traditional  liturgical  forms  of  the  Church  prohibit women (young
  girls,  married,  religious)  from serving* the priest at the altar, even in
  women's  chapels,  houses, convents, schools and institutions. In accordance
  with  the  rules governing this matter, women may (a) Proclaim the scripture
  readings,  with  the  exception  of the Gospel, (b) Offer the intentions for
  the  Prayer  of  the Faithful, (c) Lead the congregation's singing, play the
  organ  or  other approved instruments, (d) Give explanatory comments to help
  people  understand  the  services  and (e) Fulfill other services, as ushers
  and collecting offerings" (LITURGIAE INSTAURATIONED, 9/5/70).
     *This  refers  to  acting  as  an  acolyte  (altar  girl), not to serving
  communion to the people.
     In  spite  of  these  prohibitions, many progressive priests have allowed
  women to function as not officially allowed.

  From  APOSTOLIC  LETTER  MULIERIS DIGNITATEM, John Paul II, This letter, `On
  the  Dignity  and Vocation of Women' defines motherhood and virginity as the
  major vocations of women.

                                 SECULAR JOURNALS
  From  ORLANDO  SENTINEL,  4/3/90.  "A panel of U.S. Catholic bishops, in the
  final  draft of a pastoral letter on women distributed Monday, said that men
  unable  to  deal  with  women as equals should not be considered fit for the
  priesthood.  But  the committee's proposed declaration reiterated the church
  ban on female priests.
     "The  admission  of  women in all ministries not requiring ordination was
  also endorsed by the committee of six bishops.
     "Excluding  women  as  lectors  or altar servers seems `to contradict our
  mandate  that women be more visibly involved in the life of our church,' the
  committee said.
     "The  panel  urged  that the Vatican soon study whether women deacons may
  be  ordained  and  expressed  hope  that  women  will  not leave Catholicism
  because of the church's consistent practice of an all-male priesthood.
     "The  99-page  document  praises  `Christian  feminists,'  women  who are
  faithful  to  church  teachings yet promote the staus of women as equal with
  men."