Faith and Frustration: Reconciling Catholicism with Gender Equality

Loving my Catholic faith while rejecting its patriarchal structures is a constant tug-of-war. I find deep meaning in the teachings of Jesus—the radical compassion, the call to justice, the insistence that the last shall be first. But when I look at how the Church has evolved, I can’t help but wonder: did Jesus really intend for His Church to become a system that marginalizes half of humanity?

There’s an argument that men and women are simply different, that our roles in faith and society should reflect these differences. Fine. But difference does not mean hierarchy. It does not mean exclusion. It does not mean that women, who were present at the foot of the cross, who were the first witnesses to the resurrection, who led in the early Church, should be relegated to the background while men make all the decisions.

The Church claims to uphold the dignity of women while simultaneously limiting our influence. Women can educate, organize, nurture, and serve—but we cannot lead at the highest levels. We are good enough to be saints but not priests. We can be the backbone of parishes, the first teachers of faith in the home, but we cannot be decision-makers in the Church’s most sacred spaces.

And yet, despite this frustration, I stay. I stay because I believe the Church is more than its flaws. I stay because faith is not about blind obedience to human institutions but about seeking truth, even when it challenges authority. I stay because I believe that change is possible, that women’s voices must continue to rise, and that the love of Christ is not limited by outdated structures.

If Jesus broke barriers in His time, why should we accept them in ours? If He welcomed women as disciples, why should we accept a Church that excludes them from leadership? The contradiction is maddening, but the faith itself—the message of love, justice, and redemption—is worth fighting for.

So, I will continue to challenge, question, and push for a Church that reflects the true spirit of Christ—a Church where women are not just silent supporters but active, empowered leaders. I refuse to believe that God created women with intellect, passion, and spiritual gifts only to see them sidelined. My faith is not in an institution’s flawed traditions but in a God who calls us all—male and female—to build His kingdom together, as equals.