Pope says women can read at Mass, but still can’t be priests
Currently, the ministry is reserved for men even though historians say the ministry was performed by women in the early church. Francis has created a second commission of experts to study whether women could be deacons, after a first one reported on the history of women deacons in the early church. She said it was a necessary first step before any official consideration of the diaconate for women. “This closes the door on the diaconate for women,” she said in a phone interview, calling the change “a step backward” for women. ___This version corrects to say that women can read Scripture, not Gospel.
Should pregnant women get a flu shot?
You’ve likely seen and heard a lot of encouragement to get your flu shot. Amid all the talk about the flu, one question I hear every year is from pregnant women, wondering whether they’re supposed to get a flu shot. Is the flu shot safe for pregnant women? Is the flu shot recommended for pregnant women? Other things to considerIf you are pregnant and planning to get a flu shot, here is what you can expect:
New guidelines address rise in opioid use during pregnancy
Opioid use in pregnancy has prompted new guidance from the American Academy of Pediatrics, aimed at improving care for women and newborns affected by their mothers’ drug use. “While we have been talking about the opioid crisis for years, pregnant women and their newborns seldom make it to the top of the heap. The academy’s report says pregnant women should have access to opioid medication to treat opioid misuse. Two opioids, buprenorphine and methadone, are effective treatments but pregnant women often face stigma in using them and doctors who prescribe them are scarce. Some infants born to women who used opioids during pregnancy develop symptoms of opioid withdrawal, including tremors, fussiness and diarrhea.
A look at the gender gap when it comes to voting in presidential elections
Women wearing masks pose behind a voter registration table in Union Square as the city continues Phase 4 of re-opening following restrictions imposed to slow the spread of coronavirus on August 09, 2020 in New York City. Photo by Alexi RosenfeldAug. 18 marked the 100-year anniversary of the 19th Amendment being ratified, which changed elections forever. The 19th Amendment prohibits the state and federal government from denying the right of citizens to vote based on sex -- meaning, women became eligible to vote after previous years of discrimination at the polls. Since 1980, more women have voted in each presidential election than men, according to Statista. So, how much of a gap has there been between women and men voters in each presidential election of the century?
COVID-19 infection may make pregnant women more severely ill
Pregnant women infected with COVID-19 have the potential to become more severely ill than women who are not pregnant, according to a new report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Pregnant women who have been infected have a greater likelihood of being admitted to a hospital, admitted to an intensive care unit or requiring mechanical ventilation when compared to non-pregnant women. While pregnant women are at an increased risk of being admitted to an ICU or needing mechanical ventilation, the overall risk of these events has remained low. In addition to the guidelines that we have heard and still stress repeatedly -- exercise social distancing, wear a face mask in public places and wash your hands often -- pregnant women can take additional preventive action. For other more specific suggestions, talk to your health care provider about how you can remain healthy during the COVID-19 pandemic.
How Black women cleared a path for Harris to be the VP pick
(Democratic National Convention via AP)DETROIT When Hazel Dukes stepped onto the Democratic National Convention stage in 1972 to second Shirley Chisholms presidential nomination, it amounted to more than history. She will be the first Black woman and first Asian American woman named to a major party presidential ticket. But historically, Black women have fought the racism and sexism that prevented them from having prominent roles within the movements for womens suffrage and civil rights. That reminder is especially clear as America marks the 100th anniversary of the 19th Amendment, which gave women the right to vote a right that most Black women weren't afforded until much later. And while inroads have been made, Black women remain significantly underrepresented in politics.
Phones, shoes, food used in attack on workers at Florida airport, deputies say
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. Several Spirit Airlines employees were injured Tuesday night when they were attacked by three women who were apparently upset that their flight from Fort Lauderdale to Philadelphia had been delayed, sheriff's officials said. The women hit the employees with miscellaneous items, such as phones, shoes, full water bottles, metal boarding signs and fast food, according to Broward Sheriff's Office arrest reports. The incident happened outside the gate of a flight to Philadelphia in the airport's Terminal 4. Deputies arrested the women, who are all from Philadelphia. Tymaya Wright, 20, was charged with battery and petit theft for taking a Spirit employees phone and putting it in her backpack.