From the Religion News Service: When Pope Francis washes women's feet, arguments follow. Who's right? | Religion News Service
Anyway, I found this comment quite interesting:
What is the profound message of the Gospel, what does being on the fringes of society have to do with it, and how does restricting foot washing to men distract from it?
What should Christians do when a rule distracts from the Gospel message?
Apparently this is technically against the rules but not unpresidented.Pope Francis will also observe the Holy Thursday rite [of foot washing]...at a center for people with disabilities. There he will wash the feet of a number of residents, all lay people and perhaps some of them women and even non-Christians or nonbelievers.
Anyway, I found this comment quite interesting:
A Vatican spokesman, the Rev. Thomas Rosica, said Tuesday that Francis decision to include women and nonbelievers was meant as a gesture to embrace those who were on the fringes of society. The official rules, he said, can sometimes be a distraction from the profound messages of the Gospels and of the Lord of the Church.
What is the profound message of the Gospel, what does being on the fringes of society have to do with it, and how does restricting foot washing to men distract from it?
What should Christians do when a rule distracts from the Gospel message?