The fundamental patriarchical structure of the family is sanctioned by Sacred Tradition; but what of the division of sex roles in broader human society? If the delineation of sex roles is not to be found in Sacred Scripture (though it is found with respect to the ordained ministry in the New Testament and also with respect to Jewish society in the Old Testament), is there anything in tradition that condemns it or the principles for the division of sex roles? If not, then on what basis can bishops do so now, other than based on their interpretation of natural law (i.e. "justice" or "equality")?
ON NATURE & THE ECONOMY OF GRACE by Raymond T. Gawronski
Some pedestalizing:
"First, we must ask why God came as a male, not as a female. Although in the last few years I confess I have had reason to entertain doubts, and at the risk of seeming patronizing, I have always suspected it is because men are more in need of salvation than women."
And then...
"In the traditional Catholic understanding, "grace builds on nature without destroying it." So it is no surprise to discover that built into the very nature of things, as revealed in Genesis, is a way of salvation for the male and for the female. Genesis seems to see Adam as basically lazy—he would rather listen to Eve, and enjoy forbidden fruits with her, say, than deny her in the Garden—and so his healing punishment is to till the earth with difficulty, to gather the fruits of the earth from the sweat of his brow."
But the laziness is an archetypical weakness, a characteristic vice, given that men are created to lead, at least within the family and arguably within the political community, and to act in the world. In his sin, Adam fails to assert the authority he is called to exercise. It is not just a way of salvation than a healing of our sin and enabling us to do properly what we have been called to do.
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