feminine-genius: A bundle of excuses

Available now from Servant Books

Set Free—The Authentic Catholic Woman's Guide to Forgiveness (due out, October, 2012)
From Fr. Christopher Mahar: "In her previous book, The Authentic Catholic Woman, Genevieve Kineke describes with brilliance the vocation of woman as icon of the Church, called to image the Bride of Christ in all Her splendor through everyday living and total self-giving. In this richly theological and disarmingly personal book, Set Free: The Authentic Catholic Woman’s Guide to Forgiveness, Genevieve enunciates anew that call of woman to be, like Holy Mother Church, a bridge facilitating reconciliation between fathers and children, and between God and all of creation."
Genevieve's first book, The Authentic Catholic Woman, is available from Servant Books now by calling 800-488-0488. With a forward by Christopher West, this work offers a spiritual and practical outline to help all women understand God's plan for their lives.
From Father Roger Landry:
"Genevieve Kineke does all of us a great service in this important new book. Through her profound yet clear exposition of the authentic femininity of the Church as the paradigm for Catholic women today, she not only provides concrete, practical help for women seeking holiness amidst the joys and struggles of married, religious or single life, but provides all Catholics, men and women, with a much deeper understanding of what the Church is and how we, in the Church, are called to respond to Christ and others. This book will nourish every disciple."

Pope Benedict's Monthly Prayer Intentions

General intention:“That the Eastern Catholic Churches and their venerable traditions may be known and esteemed as a spiritual treasure for the whole Church.”
Missionary Intention: “That the African continent may find strength in Christ to pursue justice and reconciliation as set forth by the second Synod of African Bishops.”

Comments

From Benedict XVI
“People have realized that the complete removal of the feminine element from the Christian message is a shortcoming from an anthropological viewpoint. It is theologically and anthropologically important for woman to be at the center of Christianity."
Anger and Patrimony (from Donna)
This is just another of the unintended consequences of the cultural acceptance of contraception and abortion! Men's sexuality has been robbed of its creative essence. It is now viewed as something that imposes a burden on women (when conception happens to occur), something used to control women or something that is purely recreational. Why would men bother?? In taking away their responsibility, we've also robbed them of their significance! In the big picture of humanity, men have been made into nothing more than a nuisance women have to figure out how to control in order to bring about the next generation. Men don't see it as their task to protect the vulnerable because they see themselves as the vulnerable ones. A few well preserved vials of sperm would make men entirely obsolete in the world's ethos today!!
Excellent, Dom! (from Teresa)
That is astounding Robin, and good for you for standing up. At the heart of that matter, I think, is even worse than a gender mixing message. There is an increased sharper and sharper focus on the "self." Solid Catholic teaching returns our focus away from ourselves to Father, Son and Holy Spirit. The original sin, Eve denied her womanhood when she desired to be like "gods." Since the only god she knew was the Father. Where was Adam? He stood impotent... in other words, they were divorced. There's a young girl at Robin's son's high school who was just told that she is the center of the universe and it's a tragic disservice to her.
Find the logic (from "me")
Ditto what Mary said! A lot of high schools have very poor math and science depts, for boys and girls. I also am educated as a chemical engineer, but chose to teach the two years before we had children because its hours were more suited to spending time with children. (I was looking ahead). When it came time and I was pregnant with our first, I realized that I did not want to leave him with someone else, and was able to stay home full time. I am not sure it would have been that easy if we were used to another engineering income and not just a private school teacher income. Also some of my first job offers were out on oil rigs - I had no interest in that at all even though I enjoyed my engineering classes and did well in them. No one discouraged me from an engineering job, on the contrary I got a lot of flack for my decision not to pursue an engineering career.
Find the logic (from Mary)
I've been lurking, but this is one that irritates me. Beats the heck out of me what these "barriers" are. I was educated as a chemical engineer, where 1/3 of our class was women. However, in electrical engineering, only 1 or 2 out of 30 were women. Is it possible that women are Just Not Interested in some areas? Nah, it must be The Man keeping us down so we must legislate (and, I agree -- when they say "legistlate", I hear "quota"). And actually, I have a friend that was also a chemical engineer. When she lost her job, she decided not to go back into engineering and started working from home so she could spend more time with her 3 kids. Also, if nothing else, there are all kinds of incentives for women to enter science and engineering -- scholarships not available to men, guaranteed housing on campuses that do not guarantee housing to the general population, etc. I think you hit the nail on the head when you said that schools in general are not preparing students for the hard sciences. It is truly a sad state of affairs, the lack of science education these days.

This man describes what he calls his "fall from grace:"

If you had said to me then that in a year's time I would be departing our impressive London home for a bedsit nearby, my marriage in ruins, I would have stared at you in disbelief. And now here I am, aged 44, out on my tod on Sunday February 14 2010, banished from my home, wifeless, making bleary-eyed contact with a dad tending to his two year-old at the next table while his partner bottle-feeds her infant brother. I feel a mixture of sadness, envy, embarrassment and utter remorse. It is all my fault.

My happiness that St Valentine's Day last year camouflaged a problem. I had begun an affair with another woman. It began as innocent flirting in the school playground, which evolved into popping around to her place for morning coffee.

He agrees that he was guilty of lust, but the analysis of what women's success in the workplace is very interesting.

There is a cultural revolution going on here. A generation of women have emerged who are not only brilliant at work but also run their homes in the same utterly efficient way that they run their businesses. The staff (husband/nanny) are given tasks they are expected to perform and their execution is constantly assessed. Men haven't adjusted to this change. They are not used to being monitored in the home, which was once a place where they could do what they wanted. They are in a sort of cultural limbo where they have relinquished one role (being the sole provider) but haven't properly replaced it with anything else. Work defines us. When men were dominant at work and at home, women found themselves having to kowtow to them and their self-esteem was slowly eroded. In many families the boot is now on the other foot.

He almost allows this to be an excuse for his bad behaviour (there is none) but he steps away from that conclusion. It did give a glimpse into a man's mind about shared parental responsibilities, but showed more than anything how little graciousness and good will there was about each little action for others.

While he admits to his wife's utter humiliation by his affair, he misses completely (or ignores) what it does to his children beyond complicating their child care.

Rearing children is a bit like a round of golf. Lots of irritation and scuffling about in the rough, all the mess, constant disruption and the tantrums. But one drive down the middle – a cherubic face, a funny observation in the dentist's waiting room, a tickling session at bedtime – make it all compelling. It's far deeper and more fulfilling than the brief thrill from illicit passion. I knew that before. Now I really feel it.

He said it wasn't worth it, and perhaps it will stand as a cautionary tale. I imagine he'll be sowing this whirlwind for the rest of his life -- as will the poor children.

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