The Archbishop of Paris thus addressed the assembly:—
‘Holy Father and venerable brethren in Council,—I regret to raise a dissentient voice, but ought we to take so momentous a step, without knowing what we are about? I shall not take up your time by discussing abstract theology; that has already been done enough during this long and solemn debate; I shall address myself to a single practical aspect of the question. Have you well considered what the promulgation of this dogma of the Godhead of Our Lady will involve? It will necessitate the early ordination of a number of priestesses. Not mere vestals nor acolytes, mind you, but priestesses, women invested with full power to celebrate mass, to hear confession and give absolution, extreme unction, in short, to administer all the sacraments. Our laymen will clamour for it, and our women will see that they are mistresses of the situation, and will command it. Shall we not, think you, find this a little sudden? So far as Catholicism is concerned, our sex will be supplanted and subjugated. So be it, perhaps you will reply; we are willing to bow our necks under that yoke. Very well, but are you sure that when women shall reign supreme in spiritual concerns, they will use their power well? My experience as a Frenchman does not incline me to believe that it will be so in France. We have there too long seen feminine influence enlisted on the side of bigotry; indeed it is well for us priests that it has been so, for without the sustaining hand of Frenchwomen France had ere this ceased altogether to be Catholic. But when I am told that emancipated women will light all the lamps of science, especially sanitary science, will raise art to the place of divinity, abolish war and armaments, and work together without jealousy or egoism for the universal happiness, I can but smile sadly at the sanguine temperament of those who talk thus. I have reason to fear, on the contrary, that the women of the future
