Women in Catholicism Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Women in Catholicism - Essay Example The Gospels give account of the presence and importance of women in the company of Jesus and His interactions with them. Prominent among them are Mary and Martha, sisters of Lazarus, the friends of Jesus, and Mary Magdalene. The Gospels also mention Mary Magdalene as among the witnesses of the resurrection. But Paul, the founder of Christianity, does not mention any woman witness at the event and women could not become priests or bishops like the men (Kilgo). Whatever roles women traditionally played in early Christianity, the leaders of the evolving Catholic church clarified that women could not have official positions in the orthodox Church (Kilgo 2006). Paul refers to women, as well as to men, as his fellow evangelists. Sources, like the Gospel of Mary Magdalene, also show that her Christian community regarded her as a disciple, a leader and a major teacher. This same Gospel relates how her brother Peter opposed her activity and suggested that the newly established Orthodox Church, based in Rome, did not approve of it. Another orthodox leader in Africa, Tertullian, denounced similar activities by another woman who was baptizing, preaching and performing other acts, which were not allowed women. As early as in the first centuries, there was a great deal of objection and prejudice towards the role of women in the church (Kilgo). A study found that the higher one’s educational level goes, the less is his sexist attitude and gender prejudice towards women and that religiosity in a dominantly Catholic country displays benevolent, though not hostile, attitudes towards the genders (Glick 2002). Established religions, like orthodox Catholicism, have consistently practiced and exhibited these sexist attitudes, which justify and reinforce structural inequality between men and women. Responses to interviews and results of the study provided evidence that increasing the level of education could reduce or solve conventional gender inequalities.

Drug Wars in Ciudad Juarez Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Drug Wars in Ciudad Juarez - Essay Example Official figures released indicates that as of the close of 2008 there had being close to 1,500 cases of criminal assassinations linked to the feuding drug cartels (Ellingwood, 2008). It is against this background that the thrust of this essay will be addressing the scope of the escalating drug related violence that have engulfed the city of Ciudad Juarez in the recent past. It is no exaggeration to say that violence in its various forms is a common feature in Mexico, yet the situation in Ciudad Juarez is an exceptional case of extreme gangster inspired barbarism and carnage that has left an otherwise peaceful population terrified due to the terrorism unleashed on every body without regard for designated targets. This assertion is proven by the increasing number of innocent victims who are made sacrificial lambs in the heated drug related violence between the feuding gangs on the one side and the federal government forces on the other side. In mincing no words, the ongoing violence in Ciudad Juarez is a clear reflection of the extent to which the looming crisis has degenerated to appalling depths. There is no part of the city of 1.3 million inhabitants that is immune to the catastrophe. Almost one third of all the recorded assassinations in Mexico in 2008 occurred in the city of Ciudad Juarez, a clear indication of the state of affairs there; more frigh tening is the bleakness of the prospects of bringing these acts to a permanent end. In a rather unconventional style, almost anybody can be a target either through accident or design. There have been reports of innocent children who have been caught up in the crossfire as rival cartels exchange gun fire in open broad day light in street corners. This does not include members of the security forces who have also being targeted by the gangs in a series of assassination as a means of sounding signals to