I was reading the article, “Female Bishops in the Roman Catholic Church: A Look into Church History at Saint Brigit of Kildare” by Alyssa Pedicino. This interesting article was featured in “Women’s Ordination Conference – The Table.” In regards to the Women’s Ordination issue, we so often hear only discussion around the positions of Priest or Deacon. Yet, nay a mention of a woman becoming a Bishop.

Some might wonder, how can the writer of this article contend with such a view, in light of the Catholic church hierarchy’s explicit statement, about Women never being Priests. She solely isn’t just asserting her own view, rather she has the proof for Saint Brigit, a female bishop from the timeline of ‘the late 400s / early 500s C.E. in Ireland.’ She quotes from the text, ‘Vila Sanctae Brigitae II or the Life of Saint Brigit Part Two.’ “In the preface of the text, there is a clear description of her power in the Catholic Church in Ireland, as exhibited in phrases such as “… [she was] the head of all most all the Irish churches with supremacy over all the monasteries of the Irish…” As well this text, “distinctly states that she and Bishop Conleth hold the title of  bishop and may work together in this office.”

Isn’t it ironic, and so telling that this early part of our church history, in a sense is hiding in plain sight, when one reads through past church writings? Yet, our hierarchy continues to have a very selective memory of this actual church history, to the point of not acknowledging said history. The everyday Catholic obviously has never heard such a truth. The hierarchy has deliberately chosen not to reveal this truth. A truth of women in past Religious positions in our church’s own history. Sadly, this is what happens when the Catholic church hierarchy continues to not share this truth with the worldwide laity of this church.

To learn more about this topic, be sure to opt-in for a chapter of the book, Scandal in the Shadows. Click the image to the right.