LOS ANGELES The Roman Catholic archbishop of Los Angeles, RogerMahony, called Friday on the clergy to avoid sexist language insermons and said women should play a bigger role in forming churchpolicy.
The call by Mahony, the leader of the biggest Catholic diocesein the United States, came a month before the arrival of Pope JohnPaul II in Los Angeles for a two-day visit. Demonstrations are beingplanned against the church's stand on women during the pope's visit.
Mahony said priests should avoid using sexist words in sermons.Congregations should not be addressed as brethren and priests shouldavoid using "men" and "he" when referring to both men and women, hesaid.
"God is beyond our categories of masculine and feminine," Mahonysaid in a 16-page pastoral letter.
"Many women continue to feel oppressed by a system of churchlaws which have been created by men through a process in which womenhave had no decisive role," Mahony continued.
"Women must increasingly be placed in policy-formation anddecision-making levels within the church," he said.
"If their call for greater acceptance and for recognition oftheir gifts is not heard, there is a danger they will increasinglyfind the church unable to meet their need for deeper spiritual andcommunal growth.
"To realize that our language is having an alienating effect onwomen calls for deep reflection and commitment to new ways ofthinking, writing, speaking, teaching and praying," Mahony said.
The archbishop did not mention two issues expected to be at thecore of the expected demonstrations - the church's refusal to admitwomen as priests and its stand against abortion and birth control.
"It is clear that the roles of women, both in society and in thechurch, are changing," Mahony said.
"Where we have been insensitive, we should make changes," hesaid.
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