Women preaching

* Your hope that women wanting to be ordained may "drag the church into the 21st century" is much too optimistic (NCR, Dec. 7). An examination of what some pastors have done to male deacons illustrates that these pastors do not get it. In the past months, I have attended Mass in two churches, in the diocese of Albany, N.Y., and the diocese of Charleston, S.C. The liturgy and preaching were done by priests from India and Pakistan who do not speak understandable English. The parishioners sat and waited for the sermon to end. I suggested to the chancellor of one of these sites that the priest should say Mass but not preach.

In the second church, a deacon sat silent as the priest preached and was not understood. He told me he did not preach as "his turn" was only on the first Sunday. A pastor told me it was his church and he would decide who preached and when.

The altar area seems to be manned by the current male holders and wresting control from these "old boys" seems impossible. Good luck, ladies, I am with you.

FRANCIS W. RODGERS

Hilton Head. S.C.

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