‘Church Door Opens for U.S. Women’

Sister Susan Maloney is obviously feeling anguished and alienated from her church (“Church Door Opens for U.S. Women,” Editorial Page, July 2). She says that it is tough to be a woman in the Catholic Church because the Pope will not agree to the ordination of women, a position she believes is contrary to the Spirit. She also seems to see a connection between ordaining women and aiding the impoverished, the abused and the exploited.

It is not likely that the Pope will change the age-old tradition of male clergy. However, I believe there is a very easy remedy for Sister Maloney’s pain. She can become an Episcopalian, thereby joining a church that also does not agree with the Pope and that will ordain women. That will then leave the Spirit-led Catholic religious orders energy to carry on their age-old tradition of alleviating the poverty, abuse and exploitation of the needy, a service that has been badly neglected in recent years because of the distraction of efforts spent on dialoguing about women’s ordination.

C.J. VAUSE

Santa Barbara