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CABRINI COLLEGE, RADNOR, PA.
Vol. XVIII, No. 6
RELIGION
DOES
OPPRESS
April 24, 1972
WOMEN?
Task Force Examines Traditional Attitudes Toward Women In the Church by Carol Mele A new voiee is presently making itself heard, saying, "Make straight the way for women in the Church." Attentive ears are listening to the activity of numerous task forces working throughout the country to effect change in church policy regarding women . Apparently, the local parish Clean Linen and Alb _Society has ceased to be a suitable outlet for many a woman's spiritual zeal. Many a woman desires to devote her en ergies to active service in the Church; a service whereby she tco can participate in decision making for the organization; in short, a service of leadership. The issue of female participation in the ministry is confronting both the hierarchy and the laity of various faiths, Catholic, Protestant, and Jewish alike. Ccnsequently, interfaith group endeavors are indirectly effect_.::.~-""' 1c:: n:-: ~:-:a:--growt O ecumenism : The Philadelphia Task Force on Women in Religion is an ccur.ienical group which began al::out two and a half years ago with a small nucleus of women, en" of whom is Mrs. Arlene Swidler, currently managing editor cf the Journal of Ecumen ical Studies. The Philadelphia Ta sk force is directed toward "raising the consciousness" of individuals above and beyond the confines of traditionally ascribed female roles. When asked about the specific aims of PTFWR, Mrs. Swidler
answered, "We are an ecumenical group, and so we can't have specific aims within one faith. We really think of ourselves just as an educational group. I suppose everyone's noticed for a long time that the opposition is coming very strongly from the grass roots . And so we feel that we have to get to the women, to the students and so on, and talk to them, and let them start thinking about it. This is what we specialize in ." Since the beginning of the PTFWR, members have intermittently held panels on the topic of women in organized religion. The panels usually deal with the historical, scriptural, and theological information behind the issues at hand. The task force also reaches individuals by way of its newsletter, Genesis III. Published bi-monthly, Genesis III reports nationwide and interfaith developments in church policy with regard to active female parficip ~ tion in the ecclesia. "Most of us are active in our own church organizations beMrs. sides the task force", Swidler added . "The Catholic women within the group - and there be five or six of us - are very concerned right now that women get into the permanent diaconate, though I think that all of us feel that this is only a step toward getting women into the priesthood ." Mary Lynch , who was active in the PTFWR last year, is now in the Catholic Seminary of
Minneapolis. This fall three more women will be enteri:11g this same seminary. "Apparently it's the only one that will accept women," Mrs. Swidler explained. "They're taking the re gular course for ordination . Of course nobody has promised to ordain them. They'll get a degr ee, that's all. But we all hope that at least the diaconate will be open by then." Mrs. Swidler went on to say, "When you hear people talk ing about the ordination of women th ey always go back to Paul, and nobody ever goes back to Je sus." However, opposition from the hierarchy has not, as yet, amounted to much . "They will say that the people aren't ready for it , or that this is church tradition, church di ~cipline, which of course could be changed. The few bishops I've talked to about it will say, well ye s, there is no reason why women shouldn't be ordained and i.tcertiunfy w1 I com e someday, but they have so many other things to worry about . I think it 's simply that there aren 't en ough women organized to talk about it." The grass roots opposition is "really more women than men who are objecting to it." Accor ding to Mrs . Swidler, the reasons are apparently psychological ones. Either women feel threatened, or they resent suddenly being told after years of cor;finement to traditional roles that they can now do other things.
A Visit To Odyssey House By Linda Shimment: Faced with the reality that drug addiction in New York City has reached epidemic proportions. that the estimates of its victims are between 100,000 and 200,000 persons, that statistics reveal heroin overdosage to be the leading cause of deaths in the 15 to 35 year age groups, one must ask the question, "What is the significance of a private voluntary agency such as Odyssey House with its limited facilities and funds?" On February 26, 1972, I had a personal interview at one of Odyssey's Community Involvement Centers · to ask this question and many others . This center is located in Great Neck, New York , an average town on Long Island. Here one can find three classes of society: the wealthy upper class, the average midd 'le class, and the lower class with an unemployed majority. On the town's main street above some stores, I found the center located in a small two-
room apartment. When I walked in, I saw about fifteen guys and girls informally seated in one room, listening to records and talking. The boy at the desk, Fred, was the one in charge. He led me into a small room behind the _main room . It had a pin-ball machine, a few chairs, and a table with coffee and donuts on it. We sat down and began discussing the origin of Odyssey House and its approach. Because of the serious drug problem in Great Neck, Odyssey was asked in 1970 to open a community center where the kids of the area could go after school, instead of roaming the streets. It is supported by friends in Great Neck. Its purpose is simple - it is a place where the prevention of drug abuse is experienced through talking, teaching, and inducing a general concern for each individual present. The kids come and go as they please, and can talk about any problems they have. Parents also discuss community problems when they
gather at the center every first Thursday of the month. I was surprised to see how young some of them were - most between twelve and seventeen but later learned that this age is where drug abuse is the most serious and the most rapidly increasing in number. The function of Odyssey House is not to cure the city, state, or nationwide problems of drug abuse or to launch a massive attack on the social conditions that give rise to the spread of this disease, but rather to serve as a pilot project which problem solves, proves that solutions are possible, teaches others, and then moves on. Odyssey began in 1966. Dr. Judianne Densen-Gerber, a lawyer, medical doctor, and at that time head resident psychiarist at Metropolitan Hospital, was administering the maintenance drug cyclazocine to the addicts. They, themselves told her they didn't want another drug substituting their habit and requested
Facing the opposition are Tubingen, Germany. In 1961, he those who welcome the issues received his Ph .D. in History from the University of Wisconpresented by the PTFWR with enthusiasm . "There are a numsin. Dr. Swidler has written, ber of women who really feel edited, translated, and cothey have a vocation ," Mrs . authored several publications, Swidler said. "Besides that, many of which deal with his there are a lot of women who two specialities, Church History think that they would like to and Ecumenism . have women priests ministering Dr. Jane Cahill, co-founder of to them." the National Association of the Ironically the Catholic Church Laity, received her Ph .D. in task force on women is comTheology from St. Mary's Colpos e d entirely of men. Archlege, Notre Dame , Indiana. Her bishop Byrne of Minneapolispost-doctoral work includes St. Paul heads a force of seven Philosophy at Notre Dam e Unibishops who are presently versity , and Biblical Studies at working on those issues pertainthe University of Pennsylvania. ing to justice for women in the Dr .. Cahill -has lectured throughorganization of the Church. out the Philadelphia area on What does Mrs . Swidler hope such controversial topics as for in the near future ?"If we birth control , abortion, and could get the churches together sterilization. She spoke to the let 's say that our bishops Cabrini Biology Club last y,ear. committee meet with a bishops Ms . Margaret E. Kuhn atcommittee from th e Episcopal tended Temple University and Church and some of the other Union Theological Seminary for h er~ rad ate _ . @ie s.._..Sb.e..,...ha ,,__ .,,-_.., churches and discuss togetherI thitilr"Um; wou -is-~1g,......, s'*""ep=---" b~= ,,...,,,.,,..--"= een active for many years forward." working for social justice and Three members of the peace . Presently, Ms. Kuhn is PTFWR, Professor Leonard organizing retirees for social Swidler, Dr . Jane Cahill, and action, working with a coalition Ms. Margaret E. Kuhn, will of university students and socispeak on the · topic of women in ally concerned older persons rereligion here at Cabrini. tired from church related occuTemple University professor, pations. Ms. Kuhn's book Faith Leonard Swidler, has an extenand Justice, published by the sive academic background in Friendship Press, will be off the History, Theology, and Philosopress very shortly. phy . He studied History and Theology at the University of The panel on Women in ReligMunich , and in 1959, he received ion will be held on Monday, his Licentiate in Sacred TheoApril 24, at 4:00 in the Library logy from the University of Conference Room. its discontinuance . However, this idea of a drug free project did not comply with the Hospital's present commitment to drug testing. Consequently, in October 1966, the addicts were discharged from the hospital. Seventeen of them d·ecided to continue the work of the therapeutic community. Three psychiatrists volunteered their services free of charge, and in March 1967, Odyssey House was incorporated. Its strong belief in the therapeutic community method in the treatment of addictive diseases committed Odyssey to the expansion of its program to meet the compelling needs of the community. As of July 1971, Odyssey also has a residential facility for young girls and pregnant women, at 229 East 52nd Street in New York, and a Spanish house for drug addicts who have difficul .ty expressing themselves in English, at 955 Bruckner Blvd . in the Bronx, New York . At 211 East 52nd Street in New York, there is a Junior Executive Staff residential facility for thos ·e with superior 1.Q. and exceptional talents.
The rehabilitation service program of Odyssey is divided into three phases: 1) pre-treatment or induction, 2) intensive residential treatment, and 3) post-treatment or re-entry. Odyssey's pre-treatment period begins with an induction group while the addict is still trying to gain admission. The Odyssey House policy on admission is "not to refuse anyone who needs help." The first step towards treatment and rehabilitation is the creation of behavioral and attitudinal changes. These changes occur as a result of peer-group pressure, using techniques of observation, exploration, and confrontation supervised by professional and ex-addict staff . After these changes occur, the resident is ready to accept and understand a higher level of therapy geared to prepare. him for re-entry. Anyone is free to leave treatments anytime they want, because the addicts are not babi ·ed; a main reason for this is because Odyssey wants the addicts to stand up on their own two feet. (Continued
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April 24, 1972
Odyssey House (Continued from Page 1) They are discharged if they are found stoned or high on drugs. In the therapeutic communities anything an addict does during treatment is for therapy . For example, if someone is 1'nown to be shy and finds it hard speaking to people, he might be placed in the kitchen where he will come in constant ccntact with people and eventuary open up. Each resident in tr ::atment is placed in a specific area and assigned a job by the treatment staff. At the present time, three hundred human lives are involved in the Odyssey House's in-resident facilities. Each month four thousand persons are informed and educated by their out-reach centers. Important as this may seem . It is not the main purpose of Odyssey. Graduates have stated, simply by their achievements and actions rather than graphs, that through cures, not death, the disease of addiction can be resolved. Because of their work, Odyssey serves as an excellent example for others in the field, ohowing them that addiction is curable. Dr. Densen-Gerber sums up Odyssey and its purpose by stating: "Why Odyssey House? Because we, who are at the top, live by the principles we have taught our residents: to openly and honestly confront their problems, and thereby begin their journey towards meaningful solutions. We are now confronting an ever-growing addicted population who have younger and younger faces. We will learn to prevent as well as to cure." Another part of the entire drug problem is thaf to the young, who are becom1ng a big part of the addicted world, the adult world sets only a hypocritical example. Parents warp . their children against pot, which most kids find harmless, Many smoke .marijuana and leave. . it at that, although supposedly if a person smokes more than ten times, the chances are one out of five that he'll go on to more dangerous drug!t. The young see their parents smoke cigarettes and drink alcohol constantly, while they tell them not to smoke pot. Sound logical? I don't think so. One important step in 'the prevention of drug addiction might be for the parents to learn more about the reality of the problem, and more .about the real dangers of drugs. Possibly, instead of completely "dying" . when they find out their child is a dope addict, parents could bring their children to rehabilitation or involvement centers. Obviously, legislation and law enforcement are needed in solving this problem. But this also isn't enough. More schools should be educated by teachers and special speakers on the dangers of drug abuse. For example, drug education starts in the fourth grade in the New Yotk school system. Improvement of social conditions, education of all concerned - children, teen-agers, adults, parents, teachers, officials of the of law - stricter enforcement the narcotic laws, and control of the production of narcotics are really the basic requirements that society must fulfill for the prevention of drug addiction. High sch()()l or college stu-
Lambda IotaTauInducts Members At a recent meeting held in the English Department Office, two seniors and two juniors were initiated into Lambda Iota Tau, an international literary honor society . Representing the Beta Sigma Chapter of LIT are Maria Valente, president; Justine Drzymalski, secretary-
First Cabrini DJ On WKVU
LITTLE MAN ON CAMPUS
treasurer; Mary Jane Sullivan; and Kathy Maloney. Associate members are Terry Cavanaugh, Barbara West, and Connie Cesare. The purpose of Lambda Iota Tau is to promote excellence in the study of literature. There are one-hundred local chapters of LIT each of which is working toward the recognition and promotion of the study of literature on its own campus and with other chapters of the international society. Members of Lambda Iota Tau are afforded the opportunity to meet and to discuss literature with the best students in his college generation and with literature stude nts in other countries. This, indeed, is an immensely stimula t ing educational experience in itself.
"It's 10:30 and thi s is W. K. V.U. at Cabrini, Rosemont and Villanova. My name is Alice Vail , I'm from Cabrini, and I'll be here until 3:30 when Joe Britenback comes on. If you have any requests the number here is LA 5-8910. I'd like to play "Chicago" , from Graham Nash 's Album Songs for Beginners." Members of LIT must meet If you've heard this sentence, the following qualifications : or any similar sentence, at just they must be literature majors ~l'Vc Af,KEP YOUJN Dl~USG W11l-t YOU THE CONTI:NT about any time, day or night, 'OF THISALLE<:!EP Olc:IGINAL 1l:RMPAPE~'(OU 1lJ~cP IN, 11 or minors; they must be in the then you already know the upper 35% of their class in news. Alice Vail , a junior here, cumulative grade average; they has become a disc jockey - the must. have attained a full "B" first girl from Cabrini to do so. average in at least twelve seShe's been on the air before, domester credit-hours of literaing Prism commercials but she's Your Horoscope for the Week end of ture and a "B" average in all graduated to doing three, four, courses required by the departApril 28-29 and five-hour shows. ment; they must be students enWay back in February she rolled in at least their fifth AIRES (March 21-April 19): Decide and do thing s purely on the went to the station to visit Steve semester; they must have such basis of expediency . When the trend sugge sts caution it is then Giglotti, (General Manager). faculty approval as the local time to call a conference. She did promotion on Cabrini's chapter may require; and they ·Campus (all those posters), TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Go to the theatre or anywhe r e it is must prese:nt an initiation pap ·er worked on getting transmitters possible to find uplifting entertainment . The presence of dear ones on a literary topic, in such a in stalled, helped with the live creates happiness, too . manner as the local chapter broadcast from Grace Smoker shall require, of a quality certiGEMINI (May 21-June 21): It happens to everyone, at one time and now is a disc jockey. fied by the chapter moderator. or another to feel hemmed in , not to be able to express oneself. She plays music she "feels Time usuall y brings reli ef. Membership to Lambda Iota comfortable with , familiar with Tau constitutes a reward for and music, I think, people want CANCER (June 22-July 22) : There may be a good r ea son for excellence in scholastic achieveto hear ." On any show you'll worrying about the future in connection with career and romance. ment and thus the mere fact of Think carefully. ·hear Neil Young, Youngbloods, membership is valuable in itJudy Collins , Joni Mitchell, LEO (July 23-Aug . 22) : While you may hear reassuring words, self . Santana, Chicago, Grand Funk, the question is moot as to whether you should take them at face Beatles, Graham Nash, and of COMMUNITY SERVICE value . Just be on guard. course, Alice . ANNOUNCEMENT "I really like being a disc VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept . 24) : Abandon yourself to the lure of jockey . I've got a lot to learn Bicycling is not only a pleasure, but not beyond your ca'pacity to bear it. This is no time and some speaking habits to healthy means of exercise, for emotional actions, scenes. break but it's really great . The but also offers an extremely people at the radio station are · LIBRA (Sept. 23-0ct. 23): Make this weekend conform to y our viable alternative to our the most patient and nice people need and desires . There are tactful ways of keeping unwanted visipresent polluting forms of imaginable." tors away . transportation. All those inSCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 22) : The sugg estions you receive from a terested in working on a Senator Edmund Muskie .at fri ·znd may be wise and practical. Adopt them as your own and the Villanova Fieldhouse Bike-A-Thon to r::iise funds you'll not regret it. General Topics concerning for better bikeways in the SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 23-Dec. 21): Very favorable influ ences the Election April 24, 7:30 Delaware Valley area and for are taking over, making it possible for some to rechart their lives. p.m. Admission - Free other ecologically related inAim for happiness. sues, please contact: Address Wedding Invitations . CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) : There appears to be little quesEarth Action Center, 6772 Fast Service. Reasonable tion about your 'intention and ability to achieve something worthRates. 353-4376 . Mrs. Richard Market St ., Upper Darby, Pa. while. But figure on being stopped. Nicholson. 126 East Chelsea 352-7950. AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): As tempted as you may be to Circle, Newtown Square, Pa. speak your piece, it would be more in your interest not to . 19073. any apparent accomplishments PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20) : It . is the wise person who knows are made in the prevention and his limitations and who will refrain from going beyond them. It treatment of drug addiction, but may be a good weekend for watching T.V . dents that take drugs because at the rate people are being they seek a challenge should killed by drugs, we must start choose a less-dangerous one, now and make definit€ stands and a more worth-while one. on our positions on the serious Some could work in the Peace problem. Corps, Vista, or local hospitals ond tutoring programs. Not only would they eliminate any danSTAFF BOX gers to themselves from drugs, DON'T but would also eliminate some Editors-in-Chief .................... Terry Cavanaugh, Maria Valente of the ghetto conditions that FORGET Business Manager ..............................................Justine Drzymalski are a cause in drug addicition. Photography ............................................................ Maria and · Te r r y A more flexible educational TO rystem, such as has been begun Circulation ........................................ Juliana Chan, Trevina Chiu by experimental colleges, would VOTE Contributors ..........Lew DiFelice, Bob Colameco , Rose French , help in easing the pressure · toAlice Vail, Carol Orlando, Anne Christopherson , Mar y Jane ward conformity that is typical TUESDAY Sullivan, Carol Hele, Linda Shimmenti. en most college campuses and Typist ..................................................Fran Baliotti, Andy Hustak is also a cause of students takAPRIL 25th ing drugs. It will take a long time before
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Loquitur