Ah, what a question! Professor Rubio has produced an answer that is scholarly yet readable. It tackles this serious subject aggressively but with practical responses. She examines what it means to be human, questions of gender, roles of women (Is “work” something that counts only outside the home?), sex and differential power, marriage, and contrasts in politics, church tradition, and contemporary culture. The work is thorough and often quite personal. Its insights are applicable beyond feminism. Rubio’s experience as a serious theologian, a practicing Catholic and a married woman, combines rigor and reality.

Traditional roles of women are under scrutiny in today’s world, even beyond the church. Rubio examines some of the history of feminist thinking. Stereotypical answers to what a woman is, should be, might be, are interlaced with politics, ecclesial teaching, the molasses of what has been, and the fear of what might be.

It is hard to name a “winner,” but perhaps the richest chapters in the book deal with gender, power, and prayer. Rubio herself admits that the second half the book was much more difficult to write than the first. Biology and culture continue to struggle with gender. The judgmental contrast of cat ladies and “good” mothers dominates the news almost daily. Yet Catholics and Catholic teaching have not yet dealt adequately with gender, especially women’s being, or context. Many ecclesial writings support such causes as immigration or the removal of poverty, for example, but they are not equaled by official engagement in such things as gender, sexual violence and sexism.

In the chapters on power and on prayer Rubio underlines not solely the male language and male-only leadership in Catholic worship (“sons of God,” etc.”). She points out that sexism in the church is played out even in its rituals themselves. The dominance of male-only leadership, scriptural language, and even the visual message defines who is in charge. “Power corrupts, absolute power . . ..” She offers examples of the pain of real women who leave the church because of this reality.

Conversely, the author underscores the real possibility of how corruptive power might influence women if the priesthood were open to them. Any woman paying attention can identify with such feelings. Yet women continue to be the ones who clean the chalices, iron the linens, staff the parish telephones. A poignant quote from Rubio’s text: “Once a feminist sees, she may choose to stay, but she cannot unsee.”

The book calls for dialogue and for attention to Christian norms of human dignity, love, and justice. The author notes, apropos of contemporary political discourse on abortion, that the church “does not require that all intrinsic evils must be illegal.” She cites stories of difficult pregnancies and notes the lack of official church blessings specific to the loss of a child through miscarriage. Attention to the value of vulnerable unborn life should not shadow the real vulnerability of women who carry that life. Attention to those struggling with gender questions likewise cannot be ignored. The teachings of Catholic tradition are not set in stone but must respond to what Vatican II called “signs of the times.” It is the informed conscience that must dictate decisions.  The emphasis is on “informed” rather than on simple obedience. “We draw upon this kind of conscience when we have to decide whether and how to belong to an imperfect tradition.”

A healthy collection of footnotes encourages the reader to pursue the question further. Included are church documents, some of the better historical writings on feminism, and references to well-respected contemporary theologians. Some of these women have been honored by Rome’s negative critique of their work.

The book is powerful, provocative, and practical. Rubio has done a thorough and empathetic job of examining the issues connected with being female, Catholic, and feminist. It ends on a positive note. The author hopes the book attracts a wide audience, from universities and seminaries to parishes and book groups. She sees it as useful for feminists and those struggling with Catholic belonging. This book is a must read for anyone asking this question. It will help bring peace and clarity. It should go into the Christmas stockings of all bishops.  I did not love the book only because it is red!