Beyond Patching: Faith and Feminism in the Catholic Church

by Sandra M. Schneiders

Beyond Patching clarifies the language and concerns of feminist spirituality and effectively addresses the excruciating tensions that have arisen because of the sometimes morally unacceptable way women are treated in the church. Furthermore, it is timely in that it challenges patriarchy in principle and in practice, discusses the role of scripture as both part of the problem and a potential resource for a liberationist approach, and points out the critical gravity of our responsibility to address gender- and sex-based injustice and violence in our Church.

Genres: Religion

136 pages, Paperback

First published March 1, 1991

Reviews

[Steven H · Rating 5 out of 5]

A CATHOLIC SISTER AND FAMED THEOLOGIAN WRITES FOR THE "THEOLOGICALLY LITERATE"

Sandra M. Schneiders is professor emerita in the Jesuit School of Theology at the Graduate Theological Union; she has written other books such as 'Prophets in Their Own Country: Women Religious Bearing Witness to the Gospel in a Troubled Church,' 'Women and the Word: The Gender of God in the New Testament and the Spirituality of Women,' 'Finding the Treasure: Locating Catholic Religious Life in a New Ecclesial and Cultural Text,' etc.

She wrote in the Introduction to this 1991 book, "The purpose of this little volume is... to provide the tools necessary for the theologically literate ... reader to undertake at his or her own pace an investigation of feminist theological thought... The title 'Beyond Patching' is ... (intended) to suggest... that the old garment is beyond repair and that only a thoroughgoing reform of the church can respond adequately to the feminist critique."

She suggests that although the biblical text "norms" the interpretation, "no interpretation is THE one and only correct one... a final interpretation is not only not possible, it is not even desirable." (Pg. 57) But since the text has not yet been fully engaged from a contemporary hermeneutical perspective, the answer to the question of whether the text is a tool of patriarchy or a resource for women's liberation is not yet available." (Pg. 65)

She asserts that the essence of feminist spirituality is "a reclaiming of female power beginning with the likeness of women to the divine... and the right of women to participate in the shaping of religion and culture." (Pg. 80-81) She denounces "sexual apartheid" in the church as a "deadly cancer of the spirit." (Pg. 92)

Near the end of the book, she concludes glumly that "If exile is the primary self-image for feminist Catholics, exodus is the primary self-image for Catholic feminists." (Pg. 107)

This is a fascinating and stimulating book, and well worth study by anyone interested in contemporary theology and biblical interpretation.

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

Note: I read the 2nd edition.

It’s a fairly short book with three chapters: Feminism, Scripture, Feminist Spirituality. It’s not evangelical and her conclusions about Scripture do not align with FMC beliefs, but that was part of why I read it, to see what other kinds of Christians do with the Bible, and therefore what I might do with it as I come out of evangelicalism. She claims, on the basis of books that I have not read, that belief in a Goddess is an older form of religion. I don’t believe that at the moment, but like I said maybe I just have not seen the evidence. One of the things I love is that she discusses the inevitable anger that women have to navigate when we wake up to the patriarchal nature of the faith we love. Living with that tension, living in community with people who “are simultaneously our personal oppressors and those for whose salvation Jesus died” is difficult!

She expressed so much of what I have experienced and gave me hope for moving forward. I took about 20 pages of images from the library copy and then just ordered my own copy because I loved it so much.