Menstruation has been a tabooed topic to
talk about for centuries especially in Indian churches and societies. There is
seldom a sermon, a Bible study, a speech or a talk and so on, on this topic in
the church. It is a himalyan task for a male priest to talk about it from
church alter/pulpit or even in women’s fellowship. If at all there is a talk,
only a woman is asked to speak. Sigh! At times I wonder, why it disgusts men to
even utter about it? Moreover, why is the notion of “purity and pollution”
attached to this natural process of women’s bodies? However, women themselves
are not open to express it to others especially to men at home, work place, or
any other public places. And yes, most of them (us) are silent, shy or hesitant
because of their upbringing, where a girl is asked to restrict her expressions
about it.
When I started menstruating, I was asked
not to express/expose it to men but when I grew up, I wondered why? Is it not
strange that you are asked not to express about it to your own father or
brother in the family living under one roof? I constantly question, if it is a
biological/natural process every woman/girl goes through, “why wouldn’t women
and men be expressive without hesitation”? Why is there a gap? Perhaps, this is
how the society perceives it, “as disgusted and dirty.” In most Indian
religious traditions, women are not given access to enter temples or to
participate in religious rituals. Menstruating women are considered unholy,
dirty, disgusting, filthy, sickening, nauseating, and messed up. They are
further isolated from religious rituals (sacraments) or holding a religious
position. Thus, women are isolated from socio-cultural and religious activities
during their menstruating period. Significantly, COVID-19 has quarantined
people just for days/months this year, but sadly, women have been going through
an “enforced quarantine” from time immemorial.
This is one of the pivotal reasons for
denial of women’s ordination/ priesthood/leadership in the church/society
particularly in India. Along with other religious traditions, the church has
also played a discriminatory role by preventing women’s participation just
because, “women bleed and men don’t.” Quite often, menstruation is considered a
norm to oppose women in position, worshipping in church, participating in
sacraments especially Holy Communion services and so on. Most people in church
do not like to receive Holy Communion from the hand of a woman priest who is
considered to be impure or dirty during her menstrual cycle. In my opinion,
this is a serious matter of the “dirt” in human beings’ minds/ attitudes and
not the “dirt” in the menstrual cycle.
Being a woman, I wonder, “if God would discriminate
me and my ministry because I menstruate”? The answer I get is a big “NO” because
God created women (along with men) in God’s own image and likeness. Why would
God give a dirty cycle to a woman, who was seen as good as other God-created
beings (Genesis: 1:31)? God blessed women with the “cycle of menstruation” to
be co-creators with God to create Life. It is a blessing / boon given to women
to be a source of life. Therefore, “Bleeding” cannot be considered as
impure/dirty because it is the process to “life.” Bleeding is “life-giving,” which
is one of the attributes of God. Thus, the process of menstruation becomes the
process of life, where God is found. The bleeding Christ and the bleeding Cross
symbolize that bleeding is the process of salvation and so is the bleeding of
women. Thus, the Women-Christs demand reverence and dignity as they bleed to
liberate humanity.
Prayer
O Liberating God, forgive us that we have
discriminated menstruating women from ministry and other responsibilities. Help
us to understand the mysteries of your creation, like menstruation in women so
that women participate and lead the church with dignity. This we pray in the name
of the Bleeding Christ. Amen.
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Author: B. Silpa Rani
About the Author: Silpa completed her B.D. from Bishop’s College, Kolkata and Master of Theology from the United Theological College, Bangalore. She is presently working as the Assistant Professor in the Department of Biblical Studies (Old Testament) and also serving as the Dean of Studies in Bishop’s College Kolkata.