Vamoosh

So the Vatican is beginning a two- or three-year investigation of the teachings and practices of American Catholic sisters (nuns), to their surprise and disturbance. As some of them have remarked, it's the good sisters who should do an investigation of priests and the Vatican. I'm reminded of some of the harsh categorizations of women in general by some medieval male theologians and canonists especially of the 11th to 13th centuries when celibacy had become mandatory for all priests and bishops. Here's one addressed to the good ladies from St. Peter Damian, a monk and later a cardinal:

"I speak to you, o charmers of the clergy, appetizing flesh of the spirit, that castaway from paradise, you, poison of the minds, death of souls, venom of wine and of eating, companions of the very stuff of sin, the cause of our ruin [the fall of Adam]. You, I say, I exhort you women of the ancient enemy, you bitches, sows, screech owls, night owls, she wolves, blood suckers, [who] cry, 'Give, give, without ceasing!' (Proverbs 30:15-16). Come now, hear me, harlots, prostitutes, with your lascivious kisses, you wallowing places for fat pigs, couches for unclean spirits, demi-goddesses, sirens, witches, devotees of Diana, if any portents, if any omens are found thus far, they should be judged sufficient to your name. For you are the victims of demons, destined to be cut off by eternal death. From you the devil is fattened by the abundance of your lust, is fed by your alluring feasts."

Oddly, he doesn't condemn bleached blonds.

-Old Gargoyle