February 21, 2020
After growing up immersed in feminist and anti-establishment parishes, Melody Lyons found truth and healing in the richness of Christ’s teachings on men and women. However, after decades of no longer considering herself a feminist, she began calling herself a “Catholic feminist” to find common ground with secular women.
Melody has recently discovered that this strategy is counterproductive. Worse, today’s “Catholic feminism,” ostensibly designed to be compatible with faith, is starting to look eerily similar to the anti-establishment old guard she grew up with.
Melody joins the show to discuss her conversion, the deviant spirituality of feminism, and the renewed popularity of decades-old dissidents among young female Catholic “influencers.”
She also discusses how she found freedom in Pope St. John Paul II’s writings on women, and how his sparse rhetorical references to “true feminism” suggested more secular than Christ. I will also explain how it has been misunderstood as justifying the creation of a movement rooted in such ideas.
The central message of the melody: The Gospel is enough.
content
[1:08] Melody’s career and her work as a mother, blogger and speaker
[2:11] Her blog post “Why I’m No Longer a Catholic Feminist” is the context that arose from that.
[8:14] Melody grew up in a divorced feminist family and a dissident church.
[9:53] Feminism is not only political, but also necessarily spiritual
[17:02] The battle of all against all vs. the goal of asserted equality
[21:04] Melody converted to true Catholicism through her husband and St. John Paul II.
[29:23] Catholic feminist attempts to co-opt the pro-life movement
[35:24] The dangers of certain social media influencers
[38:25] Failed attempts to find common ground between Catholic feminists and secular feminists
[41:58] After the adoption of Catholic feminism, the faith becomes gradually subordinated to secular ideas
[44:30] Melody’s response to the belief that feminism is necessary in our historical context
[48:53] The bullying nature of feminism and pressure on men
[50:36] How men can positively influence women in their lives
[55:44] Reply to Melody’s post
link
Melody Lyons: “Why I’m No Longer a Catholic Feminist”
https://www.theessentialmother.com/blog-2/why-i-am-not-a-catholic-feminist
Melody Lyons Instagram https://www.instagram.com/theessentialmother/
Melody Lions on Twitter https://twitter.com/TheEssentialM
This podcast is produced by CatholicCulture.org. If you like our show, please consider supporting us. http://catholicculture.org/donate/audio
