News Scrapbook 1980-1981

EVENING TRIBUNE

Nun, Unitarian see feminism gaining in churches By A N .HRENBURG

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church members are doing "some profound research" on the question of women priests. "I think ordination of women will come," she said. '.'Some of t~e best minds looking into this. People versed· mchurch history and the~logy are coming to the conclu- s10n_ tha~ there are no historical or theological reasons agamst 1t. They feel this is a tradition but without a Scriptural basis." ' She added that women in Catholic religious orders are "moving very fast" in gaining full participation in the c_hurch. Lay women, who are considered by many Catho- lics to be the backbone of the church also are asserting themselves, she said. ' Overall, ''there•~ a small but very noticeable change in the Roman Cathohc Church. It's slower than I would like but there are people who feel it's too fast." ' Sister Furay, an outspoken feminist, said her views pose no problem within the Church. "You have complete freedom to say what you want. I've been quoted a lot in favor of the Equal Rights Amendment and such. It's no problem." She differs from most feminists who take a "pro- choice" stand on abortion. "I agree with the conclusion the church draws against abortion," she explained. "It doesn't bother me that other femimsts disagree. You put any group of human beings together and there will be disagreements. We work to- gether on the issues we do agree on. Abortion's a very tough issue; both sides agree on that." Mary Maschal, who is active in the Unitarian Univer- salist Church, said some women now are forming their See CHANGES, F-3 ,

Trillunt photo by JOHN GIBSIHS

Mory Moschol "I thought I would be a minister"

Sister Sally Furay "I think ordinaf n of women will come"

aid many Catholic theologians and

Furay

*Changes

CCNTI/IJED FROM F• 1 own religions or trying to change traditional denomina- tions. Ten years ago, she said, many women joined the femin- ist movement and dropped out of churches. "The feminist movement and religions couldn't seem to understand each other. I'm happy to say I'm seeing a change. "There are many women who are staying within their religions and working for justice and equality. Sister Sally Furay and I are a couple of those women." Maschal said a few women who believe they can't ~hange exis_ting religio~s are formi~g t~eir own - rang- mg from fairly conventional denommahons to worship of goddess figures or practice of witchcraft. (She explained the latter practice does not involve black magic but uses ancient rituals of "good" witches.) Whether or not they can accept traditional beliefs women realize they have definite spiritual needs in thei; lives, she said. Maschal's father was a Baptist minister and as a child she was crushed to learn she could not follow in hi~ footsteps because of her sex. "I always thought I would be a minister when I grew up: I staged these beautiful weddings and I wasn't the bnde - I was the minister. :•~hen I found out I could be a missionary, but not a mm1ster, I remember wondering, 'Why? Am I not good enough?' "During the teen years, I also wondered why the double standards supported by churches: Why men could do some things and women couldn't." . Mascbal said so~e religious hierarchies "cause injus- tices and stereotypmg. People today are using the Scrip- tures, for example, to justify the defeat of the Equal Rights Amendment." . She urged ~om~n to work from within their own relig- ions for equality. We have to recognize that it's not God, ?r w,hoever we may call our Supreme Being, who's say- mg, No, your soul isn't as good as a man's soul.' It's not God, but the patriarchal church system that's causing these injustices."

EVENING TRIBUNE

minist who inspires, sister who helps-----

-Sally Furay- EDITOF?'S NOTE, The author is a resident of San Diego. She re

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iewpoint EDITOR'S NOTE: This article represents a contribution from a reader. We welcome your offerings. Moil them ta Viewpoint Editor, The Tribune, P.O. Box 191, San Diego 92112. Include a bit about yourself and perhaps a snapshot. The bright attorney and academician talks about legal areas that should be of immediate concern to all women, such as protection of individual rights, dissemination of information concerning recent changes in laws, as well as all current legislation under consideration, and active dialogue about possible ramifications of specific legal actions. Sally is a fine model of an informed woman who seeks facts about important legal rulings, resources available to women for such services as job training and retraining, supportive counseling, financial advice and educational openings - all this, plus her consuming activities in con- junction with her administration and planning role at the university. She is highly visible to both students and facul- ty despite her many commitments, the newest of which is an appointment to the board of directors of the Old Globe Theatre of the Edison Center for the Performing Arts. A travel enthusiast and widely read scholar, Sally Furay avidly follows the daily newspapers and is there- fore able to enter into many different topics of conversa- tion with zest. In fact, her conversational skills are excep- tional at a lime when such skills are not as highly valued as other talents. She i a popular speaker who addresses women's issues in a forthright way. There are many ine- qualities to be righted and hers is a positive, enthusiastic voice for change in a fair, orderly manner. Certainly, the legal assistance Sally Furay is able to provide for some women is another dimension of the spirituality that caused her to enter the religious life in the first place. These two parts of her life are compatible and complimentary, welding together what seems on the surface to be differing dedications to service. Add to all this the fact that the woman is an efficient and practical implementer of ideas and, I think you will agree, you have an extraordinary human being. Together, the char- acteristics of spirituality and pragmatism combine to form a dynamic force in the San Diego community. Sister Sally Furay is a friend to us all! '

My friend? Actually, that 1s a presumptuous statement, for many people are proud to claim her as a friend. Sister Sally Furay is vice president and provost of the Universi- ty of San Diego, where she also holds appointments as pro! or of English and adjunct professor of law. She earned her B.A degree at a college in Omaha. an M.S. gree at San Franrisco College for Women and a Ph.D. at Stanford University. In addition to all that, she holds a .J D. from the University of San Diego School of Law The administrative and academic duties she performs are as varied as her academic training. Sally has taught llterature classes, including modern drama, and she has lectured in the field of law. This marvelous woman. who sets an example for all those who strive for excellence, is alive with energy and enthusia m She is dark-haired and possesses a smiling, vivadou face. The serene countenance is worry-line free, and there ls a look of confidence and competence about her. Sally ls warmly greeted by many people and, despite the fact that she is so active in many areas of San Diego, e 1s usually able to respond to such greetings by calling pie by thrur first names and retrieving interesting pe onal d la Is. A femimst is an advocate of the theory that wo nen should have political. economic and social rights equal to th or men, according to most standard definitions. As a femm t and "modern woman'' in the highest sense of attalnm t, Sally Furay 1s knowledgeable on the subject of women' rights. She takes strong positions and Is so deft in the doing that she gains the respect and admira- tion of people who hold widely differing views - an un al elUS1ve quality Sally's fac.i,lily for retention of facts and &er trong ethical sense are persuasive factors n listen rs' rrunds. She wants to exchange information ith others, so she ls interested in divergent opinions'. A woman of accomplishment who is valued and con- sulted by men and women of distinction, Sally Furay has

SISTER SALLY FURAY with her award from the YWCA

developed useful and fulfilling ways of utilizing her law training by serving as legal counsel to women in need of legal advice.

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