Contrary to what some secular media and non-Catholics might believe, those who work in the church, whether in parish or diocesan ministry, do not have the ordination of women as priests uppermost in their minds and on their lips.

They are far more likely to focus on --- consciously or not --- the same thing anyone in any workplace focuses on: fair treatment, respect and appreciation for what they do.

Which places the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith's "Letter to the Bishops of the Catholic Church on the Collaboration of Men and Women in the Church and in the World," and especially its emphasis on "active collaboration between the sexes" (rather than competition) between woman and men, in a unique context.

Few would argue that a collaborative spirit and methodology on any level is desired, certainly in service of the church, and in this archdiocese particularly, especially following the Synod process now in its first stages of implementation. The very word "service," in fact, suggests collaboration, not competition, and all suffer when the focus becomes not what is it that needs doing, but who does it.

It is also true, however, that if some women have felt the need to compete rather than collaborate, it's because for many years women never were given the opportunity to fully utilize their gifts and abilities in the service --- including the leadership --- of their church, to say nothing of society as a whole. It is a reality that must be acknowledged and addressed by all of us, particularly by men, and particularly by those who have traditionally held positions of leadership (and, yes, power and authority).

This reality extends beyond any labels of politics or ideology, even though Catholics (who may bridle at being labeled "liberal" or "conservative") are well aware that differences exist in our church, as a July 31 Los Angeles Times story on some of our priests suggested. In a church whose teachings --- as proclaimed in the Gospels of Jesus Christ --- cannot be confined to any side of the political or ideological spectrum, it is neither "liberal" nor "conservative" to respect and appreciate the uniqueness and gift that each person, male and female, is to our church community. It is simply Christian.

And in a Christian church that places as its highest priority how we treat (i.e., love) one another, we are called to not merely accept but to embrace and nurture the gifts that each person, male and female, brings to our table in the service of God and one another. Through our baptism, we are all born in Christ to utilize our gifts in building the Kingdom of God; let us be mindful and appreciative of each other's gifts, as we pray others are mindful and appreciative of our own.

---Mike Nelson