The Way

I really enjoyed The Way and I appreciated the opportunity to view it in class. Travel fascinates me on so many levels and, although I had heard of the Camino, I did not have a very extensive knowledge about it. In my opinion, it is such an incredible tradition that blends both physical travel with spiritual exploration. Throughout the centuries, thousands of people have embarked on the journey across Spain to deepen their faith and/or pursue a goal. The symbolism behind the walk and the accounts of the pilgrims are so intriguing. The film does such an excellent job of painting rich and complex characters that everyone can relate to. As the film progresses, the audience can see that the stock reasons for each character's walk are really only excuses obscuring the true motivations behind the journey.  Sarah, for example, claims that she was walking to quit smoking while, in reality, she is embarking on a personal odyssey of self-forgiveness. Spending weeks together away from the comforts of routine and consistency, the characters develop such a unique bond, and I felt myself become increasingly invested in their stories.

For me, the film was inspiring because it provided such an intimate look at the journey of a group of people who became unlikely friends under unusual circumstances. I plan to travel across the world and movies like The Way always serve to strengthen this ambition.

Mixed Messages

I agree that the Church does send mixed messages about the role of women within the Church. For example, it honors notable females with sainthood and reveres Mary the Mother of God as on of the greatest religious figures of the Church. However, it also constantly emphasizes Mary's virginity and praises virginal innocence while encouraging women to marry, have children, and support the domestic household. I personally have always been frustrated by the title "Blessed Virgin Mary" because it implies that a woman's sexuality is inherently dirty or sinful. Although the Church has progressed significantly, it still upholds many of the teachings of the old Church fathers. St. Jerome, for example, is frequently quoted even though he was a blatant misogynist and is even suspected to have removed women from scripture passages when he provided translations.. In addition, the Churches places restrictions on the ways in which women can participate in the liturgy, namely by barring them from ordination. While our roles in the liturgy have expanded to include altar servers, lectors, and cantors, we still are forbidden from inhabiting the pinnacle position of celebrant. Consequently, all of the Church authority is solely in the hands of males. The leading Church delegations are comprised entirely of priests, meaning that only men can decide matters of faith.

Abortion

As someone who is pro-life, it is disheartening to see how many abortions occur, especially the number of ones that are unsafe. Women in third-world countries often forced to have sex, not only with their husbands, but with other relatives and strangers. They, the victims of the abuse, are then unjustly left to deal with the consequences, namely STDs and unplanned pregnancies. If they do in fact become pregnant, their family, society, or economic necessity often pressures them into getting an abortion, usually performed through questionable practices by questionable people. Consequently, thousands of women dies each year. Although I believe that amending current pro-choice legislation, I recognize that the Church must do more to help disadvantaged women prevent pregnancy. I know that the Church opposes contraceptives, however, I think that it should take a more lenient view when considering the circumstances. Destitute women and girls abused and sexually compromised are very different from a financially stable couple wanting to freely make love every night. Through providing information about contraceptives and natural family planning, the Church can avoid the deaths of millions of innocent babies. I believe, in this situation, it truly is the lesser of two evils.