To think that one cannot be both a Catholic and a Feminist?

[applesauce1]

Inspired by another thread on here, my husband and I had a lively debate about this earlier. I think that a Catholic person cannot also be a Feminist for many reasons, but among these reasons, that an anti-abortion stance is an anti-woman stance.
My husband thinks that a Catholic could be pro-choice and therefore be a feminist, or that a feminist might also disagree with abortion.
He is a cultural Catholic (now atheist), and probably took this stance because he'd like to think that his mum is a feminist. In the end, we agreed to disagree. I think it is a black and white issue and he would like to think there are grey areas.
Do you think there's a way that someone can be a Catholic and also a feminist?

I think we need as many feminists as possible so if they identify as both Catholic and feminist, then I’m fine that.

Personally I don't feel there is much room for feminism in the catholic church which is why I'm more comfortable in the Church of England, woman vicars ect. Having said that I do know a few catholics who would also call themselves feminist

How Catholic? Nobody believes in all the teachings. I don't see many 17 baby families in.the UK for example.

Yes, and I’d consider myself both. You’re allowed to define ‘feminist’ however you want though so I won’t be mortally offended or anything.

I think that's a really good way to put it @SharonasCorona in terms of identifying as...
I've never been part of organised religion so there's a gap in my understanding of this. I suppose someone might identify' as a Catholic while still disagreeing with the anti-feminist aspects within the religion?

You’re assuming most Catholics sign up to all elements of church doctrine. In practice — and I say this as a cradle Catholic from a deeply Catholic society — most, bar converts, are extremely à la carte. The vast majority of Irish people are nominally Catholic, yet in recent referenda voted for abortion and gay marriage. I don’t know a single Catholic of my generation who doesn’t use contraception. One of the most genuinely impressive women I know is a nun who works with trafficked women. Two of my married lesbian friends met at Mass, and both are devout.

I started out as a Catholic, then became more feminist as I grew up/older. A few years ago I came to the conclusion that there were just too many places where my views were in direct conflict with the Catholic teachings. I couldn't be both without compromising both, so I left the church. I miss certain aspects of the church, but it's mostly the social side (and group singing, strangely) rather than the actual religion.

Feminism is important to me, more important than Catholicism. I have a fundamental belief that women are equal to men, which just isn't supported by the Catholic church.

I'm a Catholic and a Feminist.
(As are probably millions of other Italian women).

I think it's difficult to think of anyone dedicated to organised religion as a feminist, but each to their own I suppose.

Yes.

I am Catholic and I would never have an abortion myself but I don’t tell other women what to do with their bodies as I am also a feminist.

I don’t necessarily subscribe to all the teachings of the Catholic Church in the same way that I don’t subscribe to all the various statements within different feminist movements but I can still identify as both Catholic and feminist.

@applesauce1

Your understanding of both feminism and Catholicism seems quite black and white.

You can, of course, be Catholic (or Jewish or Muslim or Protestant) and a feminist. Why on earth not? Lots of Catholic women are feminists.

I suppose someone might identify' as a Catholic while still disagreeing with the anti-feminist aspects within the religion?

Well, or disagree with you about what those anti-feminist aspects are? I wouldn’t say that being anti-abortion is inherently anti-woman for example (although pushing to outlaw abortion in practice would be). Plus yes, lots of Catholics do disagree with a lot of Church teachings.

@Vagaries I had made an assumption that, to be a Catholic, one would have to subscribe to all of the teachings. It's interesting to hear that it can be a freer interpretation. My mind is changed!

I'm a Catholic and I'm pro-choice. Catholics are a diverse set of people, as are feminists.

Although there are teachings that will state xyz, but you'll find that most of us will make try to make sense of things in our own way. My favourite nun refers to God as a woman.

Lots of people would claim you can’t be a scientist and religious

Many religious scientists would disagree

I think it’s up to the person to decide they may have different ideas around certain aspects of feminism than I do and their religion they may question some of the beliefs

Vagaries is right.

and if you are researching Catholicism, please look carefully at the sources you find online and don't fall for the ones that base their knowledge on Catholicism from Godfather films, etc.

I would say both views simultaneously would be difficult for an individual to hold. But, people are plenty capable of holding contradictory and hypocritical views (I'm not saying that in a negative way) and are able to make peace with the conclusions they come to and the justifications they use to do so.

I think anyone who wants to identify as a feminist makes the world a better place. I certainly wouldn't dismiss them as a feminist due to their religious views.

Can you be a catholic and believe in dinosaurs? I suppose it depends on your definition of a Catholic and your definition of a feminist. I'm sure that there exists out there Catholics that believe you can't be catholic if you're a feminist. I personally believe I'm both. But then I'm partial to an aul Brazilian wax which some feminists and Catholics would be vehemently against so I'm probably neither a good catholic or good feminist.

@DonnaQuixotedelaManchester You're right in a way, but I'd say my knowledge of Catholicism is narrow rather than black and white. The responses on this thread have been really informative.
I'd never thought about myself as being black and white on my views on feminism, but for me, I don't really understand how anyone who is anti-abortion could be a feminist. I'm open to hearing opinions on this, though. I like to learn, hear the views of others and change my mind accordingly.

I am both. And I don't mean passively both. I am very active in my feminism. I am very active in my Catholicism. At no point in my feminism, which includes activism for divorce, abortion and demand, etc have I ever been rejected for these actions from the catholic church. But I have found myself rejected from feminism for being a catholic. FFS.

Of course Catholics can be feminist. Are there any other women you think can't be feminist OP?

I’m an Anglican. DH is a catholic. We’re both socially liberal. I’m a radical feminist. (Hi, GC Twitter friends!)

Interestingly, since having DS my own (pro choice) position on abortion has altered. I remain resolutely pro choice, anti protests near abortion clinics etc. But, having had a baby, I feel very differently about abortion now. It’s very conflicting, and I understand why many view it harshly.

But I remain a radical feminist. And a Christian. You can be both.

I read the other thread and was mildly amused at what people perceive Catholics to be.
Italy has one of the lowest birth rates and the highest number of only children in Europe. Do you think that's because they're not having sex?
Contraception happens. Just as available as the UK. Ditto abortion. Ditto divorce. Ditto not being married.
I'm not Catholic but I'm in Italy. DD is Catholic and very feminist. So are most of the 200 or so girls I teach.
Our local parish priest isn't sure he believes in God. (He was my student, we had interesting conversations) When DD had her first communion I explained to him I wouldn't be going up for communion because I wasn't Catholic. He said it didn't matter whether I was or not.

I read all sorts on here about the Catholic church which, oddly, seems far more rigid in the UK than Italy.

Can you be a catholic and believe in dinosaurs?
What now? Do you mean in regard to a belief in evolution, which the current pope supports?