Women may serve as pastors but do not have access to the priesthood in the Catholic religion. The only ones ordered in France are not recognized by the institution. The French army welcomed the first female Muslim chaplain. She hopes to have led the way and not be the only one.
The first woman French priest was ordained yesterday during a ceremony on a barge in Lyon, and at the same time excommunicated by the Church. Geneviève Beney is one of the ten women who have already been ordained in the world. Elfriede HARTH, "Catholic Association for a Free Choice", deplores the fact that there are only men to represent the Church. For Christian TERRAS, director of the magazine "Golias", when there is refusal of the debate, it is necessary to go beyond the law and to make a symbolic act to move things forward. Father Jean SEROLDI, spokesman for the archdiocese of Lyon, condemned such acts, speaking of provocation.
Portrait of Line GRANADE, 24, pastor in the Cévennes. The young woman explains what her function is. " I am Line before being pastor and Line both in the Temple and with the parishioners," she stresses.
Testimony of Messaouda HOUHA, the first Muslim chaplain in the French army. She acknowledges that in France, there are more openings for women to access certain positions. She tells about her career, her experience in the Val de Grâce hospital where she works with the only woman Israeli chaplain. She hopes that this will pave the way for other women to join the Muslim chaplaincy.