DUBLIN, Aug. 29 (CWNews.com)

    Ireland's Catholic bishops have proposed dropping seven New Testament texts from the lectionary for Mass because they are "liable to give contemporary society and undesirably negative impression regarding women."

    The proposal comes as part of a letter on domestic violence prepared by the bishops' Commission for Justice and Peace and the Pastoral Commission. Bishop Laurence Ryan of Kildare and Leighlin is president of the former commission, while Bishop Willie Walsh of Killaloe is president of the latter.

    The seven texts come from the writings of St. Paul and St. Peter: Colossians 3:18, 1 Peter 3:1-6, Titus 2:4-5, Ephesians 5:22-24, 1 Corinthians 11:3-16, 1 Corinthians 14:33-35, and 1 Timothy 2:11-15. Most deal with the relationship of women to their families, their husbands, and their churches.

    The document said the Scriptures would best be omitted, but where used "in any context, they should be suitably commented on in the light of contemporary Church teaching." In a joint foreword, the two chairmen of the commissions said, regarding domestic violence, "the Church, like other sectors, has had its learning curve, and there is still a long way to go." She had also "not been without its share of responsibility [for such violence] in the past and we acknowledge this."

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