Ivone Gebara in LA

Dr. Ivone Gebara speaking and greeting admirers at Mount St. Mary's College, Doheny campus, this evening in Los Angeles.

Her topic was "Happiness and the Construction of Right Relationship--A Feminist Perspective."

A leading feminist theologian in South America, she speaks and writes on eco-feminism and liberation theology.

She is also a Brazilian Sister of Our Lady (Canonesses of St. Augustine).

Her most recent books are:

Out of the Depths: Women's Experience of Evil and Salvation and

Longing for Running Water: Ecofeminism and Liberation (Biblical Reflections on Ministry).

Dr. Gebara has long been a spokeswoman for poor women in Brazil.

In 1993 she said that abortion was not necessarily a sin for poor women, in an interview with VEJA magazine in Brazil.

In 1995 she was placed under a two-year silencing by then-Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger's Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith (NCR, May 26, 1995).

What a waste to have her gentle voice silenced! Her presentation was gracious, warm, and thoughtful this evening.

She briefly alluded to the recent child sexual abuse and abortion case in Brazil, which took place not far from where she lives, Recife. She taught at the Theological Institute of Recife for nearly twenty years.

In answer to a question about Archbishop Jose Cardoso Sobrinho, who rushed to announce excommunication of those involved, she said he's not a mean person but just very focused on canon law.

A conference of Brazilian bishops later clarified that Sobrinho's announcement did not actually constitute excommunication and recommended against applying that penalty in this case.

Her talk was the seventh annual Pat Reif Memorial Lecture.

Dr. Alexis Navarro presented a remembrance of Pat (1929-2002), an IHM who taught at Immaculate Heart College until its closing and then directed the Masters in Feminist Spirituality program.

Many in the audience had cherished Pat's friendship and outspoken feminism, including me. I worshipped with her monthly for ten years in Women-Church home liturgies.

Dr. Gebara will speak tomorrow on a different topic at Claremont School of Theology, 7 pm.

Photos (left to right):

1) Dr. Gebara with ________.

2) Dr. Gebara with Laurie Wright-Garry, asst. professor of religious studies; Marlene Abboud, M.A. student, Rosamond Rodman, asst. professor of religious studies, and Maria Covarrubias, M.A. student.

3) and 4) Dr. Gebara with Theresa Yugar, a MSMC alumna now in the doctoral program at Claremont Graduate University.

5) Dr. Gebara autographing books.