Arlene Anderson Swidler

Arlene Anderson Swidler was born March 6, 1929, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
Home: 7501 Woodcrest Ave., Philadelphia, PA 19151; Tel: 215-477-6939; FAX: 215-477-5928; E-Mail, c/o Leonard Swidler

EDUCATION:

Marquette University: 1946-1950; BA in English literature 1950.

University of Wisconsin Madison, English and Comparative literature, 1950-1957 (ABD); MA 1952.

Villanova University, Catholic Theology, 1978-80; MA 1980.

TEACHING:

English composition and literature, University of Wisconsin Madison, 1951-52; 1955-57.
English composition and literature, Valparaiso University, 1952-55; 1957.
English composition and literature, University of Maryland in Munich, Germany, 1958-60.
English composition and literature, Duquesne University, 1960-66.
Second Vatican Council (Assistant to Prof. Bernard Häring, directing three other Assistants and 650 students), Temple University (Philadelphia), 1968.
Women and Religion, Rosemont College, Rosemont, PA.
Women and Religion, St. Joseph's University, Philadelphia, PA.
Religion and Human Life, Villanova University, Villanova, PA., 1980-1990.
Women and Religion, Villanova University.
Ethics, Villanova University.
Christianity in America, Villanova University.
Religion and World Literature, Villanova University.
English Composition, Temple University Japan (Tokyo), 1987.
Intellectual Heritage-I & II, Temple University Japan (Tokyo), 1990-91.
Women and Religion, Temple University Japan (Tokyo), 1990.
Religion and World Literature, Temple University Japan (Tokyo), 1991.

CO-FOUNDER:

In May, 1971 Arlene Swidler and Leonard Swidler founded an ecumenical bi-monthly newsletter of the Philadelphia Task Force on Women in Religion entitled GENESIS III, later joined on the editorial staff, among several others, by their daughter Carmel Swidler. The newsletter expanded considerably, and to its last issue, May, 1975, Arlene was the its primary editor.

EDITING:

JOURNAL OF ECUMENICAL STUDIES (Scholarly quarterly devoted to ecumenical and interreligious dialogue). Managing Editor, 1964-1971;
WORD (Monthly magazine, organ of the National Council of Catholic Women, Washington, D.C.). Editor. October, 1970-December, 1971.

PUBLICATIONS:

Books

WORLD RELIGIONS. CONCERN: A DISCUSSION SERIES. Morristown, NJ: Silver Burdett Company, 1970.
BISHOPS AND PEOPLE. Editor with Leonard Swidler. Philadelphia: Westminster Press, 1970.
WOMAN IN A MAN'S CHURCH. New York:Paulist Press, 1972.
SISTERCELEBRATIONS. NINE WORSHIP EXPERIENCES. Editor. Philadelphia: Fortress Press, 1974.
WOMEN PRIESTS. A CATHOLIC COMMENTARY ON THE VATICAN DECLARATION. Editor with Leonard Swidler. New York: Paulist Press, 1976.
JUDAISM FOR YOUNG PEOPLE. A BIBLIOGRAPHY [annotated]. Editor with Josephine Z. Knopp. Philadelphia: National Institute on the Holocaust, 1978.
HUMAN RIGHTS IN RELIGIOUS TRADITIONS. [special issue of the JOURNAL OF ECUMENICAL STUDIES. Vol. 19, No. 3 (Summer 1982)]. Editor
HUMAN RIGHTS IN RELIGIOUS TRADITIONS. Editor. New York: Pilgrim Press, 1982.
MARRIAGE IN THE WORLD RELIGIONS [special issue of the JOURNAL OF ECUMENICAL STUDIES. Vol. 22, No. 1 (Winter 1985)]. Editor
MAINSTREAMING FEMINIST RESEARCH FOR TEACHING RELIGIOUS STUDIES. Editor with Walter E. Conn. College Theology Society Series. Lanham, MD: University Press of America, 1985.
MARRIAGE AMONG THE RELIGIONS OF THE WORLD. Editor. Lewiston, NY: Edwin Mellen Press, 1990.
A NEW PHOEBE. Perspectives on Roman Catholic Women and the Permanent Diaconate. Editor with Virginia Kaib Ratigan. Kansas City, MO: Sheed & Ward, 1990.
HOMOSEXUALITY AND WORLD RELIGIONS. Editor. Philadelphia: Trinity Press International, 1993.

Articles

"The Human Sacrifice" (poem), as Arlene Anderson, INTEGRITY. Vol. 9, No. 11 (August 1955), p. 19.
"Milton's PARADISE LOST, II, 866-870," THE EXPLICATOR. Vol. XVII, No. 6 (March, 1959). P. 9.
"Kinderbücher," AMERICA. Vol. 106, No. 10 (December 9, 1961). P. 363.
"The Male Church," COMMONWEAL. Vol. LXXXIV, No. 14 (June 24, 1966). Pp. 387-389.
"Feminine Mystique in a Male Church" [Address at Eastern Regional Catholic Press Association Convention in Wilmington, DE], DELMARVA DIALOGUE. (November 18, 1966). P. 10.
"An Ecumenical Question: The Status of Women," JOURNAL OF ECUMENICAL STUDIES. Vol. 4 No. 1 (Winter 1967). Pp. 113-115.
"The Forgotten Neighbor" [on the ecological responsibility of religions], JOURNAL OF ECUMENICAL STUDIES. Vol. 4 No. 4 (Fall 1967). Pp. 722-723.
"Another Head Rolls. Friction in Philadelphia," COMMONWEAL. Vol. LXXXVII, No. 15 (January 19, 1968). Pp. 463-464.
"Women: The Church's Third Class Citizens," in John O'Connor, ed., AMERICAN CATHOLIC EXODUS. London: Geoffrey Chapman, 1968). Pp.161-175.
"Strike No. 2 Meanwhile, Back in Philadelphia," COMMONWEAL. Vol.LXXXVI, No. 7 (May 5, 1967). Pp. 191- 192.
"Brownson and the `Woman Question,'" AMERICAN BENEDICTINE REVIEW. XIX, 2 (June, 1968). Pp. 211-219.
"Rally 'Round the Banners Boys & Girls," OUR SUNDAY VISITOR. Vol. LVII, No. 30 (November 23, 1969). P 10.
"Make Theology Your Business," WORD [National Council of Catholic Women]. Vol. 7, No. 3 (December 1969). Pp. 4-11.
"The Hows and Why," WORD [National Council of Catholic Women]. vol. 7, no. 5 (May, 1970). Pp. 12-14.
"Can a Married Woman Have a Name that's Hers Alone?" NATIONAL CATHOLIC REPORTER. (April 20, 1971). P. 16.
"Progress (or No Progress) Report: Academic Women's Lib," NATIONAL CATHOLIC REPORTER. (July 2, 1971). P. 6- A.
"Symbolic Actions for Women's Lib," NATIONAL CATHOLIC REPORTER. (August 27, 1971).
"Catholic Liberationists: Feminists in the Middle," NATIONAL CATHOLIC REPORTER. (October 22, 1971). P. 6.
"Men, Not Women, Control Giving," NATIONAL CATHOLIC REPORTER. (December 10, 1971). P. 8.
"Women's Religious Witness," NATIONAL CATHOLIC REPORTER. (January 14, 1972). P. 8.
"Protestants Make Women's Groups Go," NATIONAL CATHOLIC REPORTER. (February 4, 1972). P. 8.
"Men Decide What Women Do," NATIONAL CATHOLIC REPORTER. (March 24, 1972). P. 7.
"Stalling Tactic by Churchmen: `Ecumenism' Is a Phony Argument, NATIONAL CATHOLIC REPORTER. (May 26, 1972). P. 11.
"Catholic Consumerism: Travel Lighter, Get Rid of Things," NATIONAL CATHOLIC REPORTER. (September 1, 1972).
"Status Problems: No `Baby Steps' to Married Priests," NATIONAL CATHOLIC REPORTER. (October 6, 1972). P. 12.
"Catholics Should Take Initiative: A Time for Dialogue on Abortion," NATIONAL CATHOLIC REPORTER. (December 1, 1972.
"To Bring Ecumenism Alive," THE PRESBYTERIAN OUTLOOK. Vol. 155, No. 4 (January 22, 1973). P. 1
"Liberation Is Not a Dirty Word," PEOPLE. The Magazine of the National Council of Catholic Laity. Vol. 2, No. 1 (January-February 1973). Pp. 10-12.
"The Sexist Church: Women Want Church Jobs," NATIONAL CATHOLIC REPORTER. (1973).
"Arguments Against Women: The Retreat to `Tradition'" NATIONAL CATHOLIC REPORTER. (June 8, 1973). P. 15.
"Theologian for Liberation" [Interview with Dr. Elisabeth Moltmann-Wendel], LUTHERAN WOMAN. Vol. XI No. 7 (July-August 1973). Pp. 14-17.
"American Feminists Not Alone," NATIONAL CATHOLIC REPORTER. (October 19, 1973). P. 8.
"Feminist Liturgies," CATHOLIC WOMAN. Vol. 1, No. 1 (January-February 1975). Pp. 3-5.
"St. Elizabeth of New York" [On Elizabeth Seton], COMMONWEAL. Vol. CII, No. 10 (August 1, 1975). P. 295.
"Silver Lining," LITURGY. Journal of the Liturgical Conference. Vol. 20, No. 9 (November 1975). Pp. 291- 294.
"Preface" [with Leonard Swidler], in Ida Raming, THE EXCLUSION OF WOMEN FROM PRIESTHOOD: DIVINE LAW OR SEX DISCRIMINATION?. Metuchen, NJ: Scarecrow Press, 1976. Pp. vii-xvii.
"Membership Forum," LITURGY. Journal of the Liturgical Conference. Vol. 21 No. 3 (March 1976). P. 66.
"Catholics and the 1876 Centennial," THE CATHOLIC HISTORICAL REVIEW. Vol. LXII, No. 3 (July, 1976). Pp. 349-365.
"Catholics and the E.R.A.," COMMONWEAL. Vol. CIII, No. 19 (September 10, 1976). Pp. 585-589.
"Let Us Now Praise Famous Women," in MAJOR FEASTS AND SEASON. Washington, DC: The Liturgical Conference, 1976.
"In the Presence of God My Mother," NEW CATHOLIC WORLD "Twenty-eight Outstanding Christians Answer the Question: How Do I Pray"]. Vol. 220, No. 1315 (Jan./Feb. 1977). P. 20.
"Women's Rights in the Church: Why Are Women `Sons of God'?" NATIONAL CATHOLIC REPORTER. (April 1, 1977). P. 14.
"Now We Are Three" [on Jewish-Christian-Muslim dialogue], NATIONAL CATHOLIC REPORTER. (May 27, 1977). P. 11.
"Let's Have Lay Preachers Now," NATIONAL CATHOLIC REPORTER. (September 16, 1977).
"If Deaconesses, Why Not Priests? NATIONAL CATHOLIC REPORTER. (November 25, 1977).
"Some Thoughts on Rape," COMMONWEAL. Vol. CV, No. 3 (February 3, 1978). Pp. 75-78.
"Women in Ministry: Some Ecumenical Lessons," SPIRITUALITY TODAY. Vol. 30, No. 1 (March 1978). Pp. 4- 13.
"Sexist Language in Liturgy," FACE TO FACE. AN INTERRELIGIOUS BULLETIN [Organ of the Anti-Defamation League of B'nai B'rith]. Vol. V (Spring 1978). Pp. 21- 22.
"Ecumenical Notebook," NATIONAL CATHOLIC REPORTER. (September 15, 1978).
"Ecumenical Prophets and Pioneers: Max Joseph Metzger," ECUMENICAL TRENDS. Vol. 7 No. 9 (October 1978). Pp. 132-134.
"RC Women Call 1st International Talk on Issue [Women Priests[," THE WOMAN'S PULPIT, Vol. No. 4 (October- December 1978). Pp. 1, 8.
"In Search of Huldah, THE BIBLE TODAY, No. 98 (November 1978). Pp. 1780-1785.
"Jews and Poles Fight Cold War," NATIONAL CATHOLIC REPORTER. (February 2, 1979). P. 13.
"It's No Sin to Be Raped," U.S.CATHOLIC. Vol. 44, No. 2 (February 1979). Pp. 12-17.
"Spirituality in the Fiction of Gertrud von le Fort," AMERICAN BENEDICTINE REVIEW. Vol. 30, No. 2 (June 1979). Pp. 146-158.
"Sara Nicolena Brownson," in Lisa Mainiero, ed., AMERICAN WOMEN WRITERS. New York: Frederick Unger Publishing Company, 1979. Vol. 1. Pp. 261-262.
"Katherine Kurz Burton" in Lisa Mainiero, ed., AMERICAN WOMEN WRITERS. New York: Frederick Unger Publishing Company, 1979. Vol. 1. Pp. 279-281.
"Aline Murray Kilmer," in Lisa Mainiero, ed., AMERICAN WOMEN WRITERS. New York: Frederick Unger Publishing Company, 1980. Vol. 2. Pp. 452-454.
"Sister Madeleva," in Lisa Mainiero, ed., AMERICAN WOMEN WRITERS. New York: Frederick Unger Publishing Company, 1981. Vol. 3. Pp. 108-110.
"Helen Constance White," in Lisa Mainiero, ed., AMERICAN WOMEN WRITERS. New York: Frederick Unger Publishing Company, 1982. Vol. 4. Pp. 393-395.
"Ecumenism and the Younger Generation," ECUMENICAL TRENDS. Vol. 9, No. 11 (December 1980), Pp. 172-174.
"Prophets and Symbolic Acts Today," THE BIBLE TODAY. Vol. 19, No. 3 (May 1981). Pp. 182-186.
"The Image of Woman in a Father-Oriented Religion," in CONCILIUM. No. 163 (March 1981). Pp. 75-80.
"L'immagine delle donna in una religione centrata sul padre," CONCILIUM REVISTA INTERNAZIONALE DI TEOLOGIA. No. 163 (March 1981). Pp. 124-134.
"L'image de la femme dans une religion axee sur le pere," CONCILIUM. No. 163 (March 1981). Pp. 115-123.
"Die Frau in einer vom Vatergott bestimmten Religion," CONCILIUM. No. 163 (March 1981). Pp. 228-234.
"Imagen de la Mujer en una Religion Paternalista," CONCILIUM REVISTA INTERNACIONAL DE TEOLOGIA. (March 1981). Pp. 412-420.
"Het beeld van de vrouw in een godsdienst, de gebaseerd is on het vaderbegrip," CONCILIUM INTERNATIONAAL TIJDSCHRIFT VOOR THEOLIGIE. No. 163 (March 1981). Pp. 78-84.
"Women in American Catholic History," HORIZONS, Vol. 10, No. 2 (1983), pp. 334-340.
"Beyond the Letter of the Law," in FIDELITY IN CREATING THE FUTURE. Detroit: Groundwork for a Just World, 1984. Pp. 22-26.
"From Across the Canonical Fence," in Madonna Kolbenschlag, AUTHORITY, COMMUNITY AND CONFLICT. Kansas City, MO: Sheed & Ward, 1986. Pp. 124-133.
"A Modest Proposal: Bring Back Women Deacons," U.S.CATHOLIC. Vol. 52, No. 8 (August 1987). Pp. 30-31.
"The Founder of Catholic U Was a 21-year-old Woman," NATIONAL CATHOLIC REPORTER, (May 20, 1988), p. 15.
"Hans Küng's Theological Pilgrimage to Iran," NATIONAL CATHOLIC REPORTER. (December 39, 1988). P. 20.
"Creative Writing: A Theological Lens," THE ARTS IN RELIGIOUS AND THEOLOGICAL STUDIES. Vol. 4, No. 3 (Summer 1992). Pp. 18-20.

Reviews:

Eric Bentley, ed., THE STORM OVER THE DEPUTY. Reviewed in PITTSBURGH CATHOLIC. (July 8, 1965).
Mary Daly, THE CHURCH AND THE SECOND SEX. Reviewed in PHILADELPHIA CATHOLIC STANDARD AND TIMES. (May 10, 1968).
Joan Morris, THE LADY WAS A BISHOP. Reviewed in ST. ANTHONY MESSENGER. (June 1973).
J. Edgar Bruns, GOD AS WOMAN, WOMAN AS GOD. Reviewed in ST. ANTHONY MESSENGER. (October 1973).
Nancy van Vuuren, THE SUBVERSION OF WOMEN. Reviewed in GENESIS III. (September/October, 1973). P. 8.
Bernard Häring, FAITH AND MORALITY IN THE SECULAR AGE. Reviewed in ST. ANTHONY MESSENGER. (January 1974).
Ann Oakley, WOMAN'S WORK: THE HOUSEWIFE, PAST AND PRESENT. Reviewed in ST. ANTHONY MESSENGER. (August 1975).
Eugene Hillman, POLYGAMY RECONSIDERED. Reviewed in ST. ANTHONY MESSENGER. Vol. 83, No. 10 (March 1976). Pp. 49-50.
Elaine Pagels, THE GNOSTIC GOSPELS. Alan T. Davies, ANTI-SEMITISM AND THE FOUNDATIONS OF CHRISTIANITY. Rosemary Ruether, FAITH AND FRATRICIDE. Pinchas Lapide, ISRAELIS, JEWS AND JESUS. Pinchas Lapide, THREE POPES AND THE JEWS. Peter Berger, THE HERETICAL IMPERATIVE. Denise Carmody, WOMEN AND WORLD RELIGIONS. Reviewed in COMMONWEAL. Vol. CVII, No. 4 (February 29, 1980). Pp. 120-121.
John F. Morley, VATICAN DIPLOMAGY AND THE JEWS DURING THE HOLOCAUST, 1939-1943. Reviewed in JOURNAL OF ECUMENICAL STUDIES. Vol. 18, No. 1 (Winter 1981). Pp. 145-146.
Daniel C. Maguire, A NEW AMERICAN JUSTICE: ENDING THE WHITE MALE MONOPOLIES. Reviewed in NATIONAL CATHOLIC REPORTER. (January 23, 1981). P. 8.
John F. Morley, VATICAN DIPLOMAGY AND THE JEWS DURING THE HOLOCAUST, 1939-1943. Lawrence Cunningham, THE MEANING OF SAINTS. John Boswell, CHRISTIANITY, SOCIAL TOLERANCE AND HOMOSEXUALITY. Daniel Maguire, A NEW AMERICAN JUSTICE. Madonna Kolbenschlag, KISS SLEEPING BEAUTY GOODBYE. Carol Christ, DIVING DEEP AND SURFACING. Hans Küng, THE CHURCH MAINTAINED IN TRUTH. Reviewed in COMMONWEAL. Vol. CVIII, No. 4 (February 27, 1981). Pp. 123-124.
F.E. Perters, OURS. William Johnston, THE MIRROR MIND. Marina Warner, JOAN OF ARC. Reviewed in COMMONWEAL. Vol. CIX, No. 4 (February 26, 1982). Pp. 122-123.
Sara Maitland, A MAP OF THE NEW COUNTRY. Rosemary Radford Ruether, SEXISM AND GOD-TALK. Elizabeth Schuessler-Fiorenza, IN MEMORY OF HER. Reviewed in COMMONWEAL. Vol. CX, No. 17 (October 7, 1983). Pp. 537- 538.
Clyde F. Crews, ENGLISH CATHOLIC MODERNISM: MAUD PETRE'S WAY OF FAITH. Reviewed in NATIONAL CATHOLIC REPORTER.
Celine Mangan, CAN WE STILL CALL GOD "FATHER"? Reviewed in ST. ANTHOHY MESSENGER. (January 1985). P. 51.
Mary Jo Weaver, NEW CATHOLIC WOMEN: A CONTEMPORARY CHALLENGE TO TRADITIONAL RELIGIOUS AUTHORITY. Reviewed in a "Review Symposium" in HORIZONS. Vol. 14, No. 1 (Spring 1987). Pp. 115-117.
William W. May, ed., VATICAN AUTHORITY AND AMERICAN CATHOLIC DISSENT: THE CURRAN CASE AND ITS CONSEQUENCES. Reviewed in NATIONAL CATHOLIC REPORTER. (February 5, 1988). P. 20.
Arvind Sharma, ed. WOMEN IN WORLD RELIGIONS. Reviewed in HORIZONS, Vol. 15, No. 1 (Spring 1988). Pp. 212-213.
Patrick W. Carey, PEOPLE, PRIESTS, AND PRELATES Ecclesiastical Democracy and the Tensions of Trusteeism. Reviewed in COMMONWEAL. Vol. CXV, No. 7 (April 8, 1988). Pp. 219-222.
Leonardo Boff, THE MATERNAL FACE OF GOD: THE FEMININE AND ITS RELIGIOUS EXPRESSIONS. Reviewed [highly critical review] in NATIONAL CATHOLIC REPORTER. (May 6, 1988).
Iris Müller, DIE MISERE KATHOLISCHER THEOLOGINNEN IN DEN DEUTSCHEN UNIVERSITÄTEN. Reviewed in NEW WOMAN-NEW CHURCH. Vol. 12, No. 1 (January/February 1989). P. 18.
Heinrich Böll, WOMEN IN A RIVER LANDSCAPE. Reviewed in NATIONAL CATHOLIC REPORTER. (August 11, 1989).
Margaret R. Miles, PRACTICING CHRISTIANITY. Reviewed in THE CATHOLIC WORLD. Vol. 233, No. 1397 (September- October 1990). Pp. 228-229.
Maria Harris, DANCE OF THE SPIRIT: THE SEVEN STEPS OF WOMEN'S SPIRITUALITY. Reviewed in THE CATHOLIC WORLD. Vol. 234, No. 1404 (November-December, 1991). Pp. 277- 278.
Patrick G. Coy, ed., REVOLUTION OF THE HEART [about the "Catholic Worker"]. Reviewed in THE CATHOLIC WORLD. Vol. 237, No. 1421 (September/October, 1994). P. 247.

TRANSLATIONS:
Books

Richard Gutzwiller, S.J., THE PARABLES OF THE LORD. New York: Herder and Herder, 1964. Original: DIE GLEICHNISSE DES HERRN. Einsiedeln: Benziger Verlag, 1961.
Heinrich Kahlefeld, PARABLES AND INTSTUCTIONS IN THE GOSPELS. New York: Herder and Herder, 1966. Original: GLEICHNISSE UND LEHRSTÜCKE IM EVANGELIUM. Frankfurt a/M: Josef Knecht, 1963.
Bernard Häring, THIS TIME OF SALVATION. New York: Herder and Herder, 1966. Original: THE GEGENWÄRTIGE HEILSSTUNDE (first half). Freiburg i/Br: Erich Wewel Verlag, 1964.
Bernard Häring, CHRISTIAN MATURITY. New York: Herder and Herder, 1967. Original: DIE GEGENWÄRTIGE HEILSSTUNDE (second half). Freiburg i/Br: Erich Wewel Verlag, 1964.
Haye van der Meer, S.J. WOMEN PRIESTS IN THE CATHOLIC CHURCH? A Theological-Historical Investigation. Philadelphia: Temple University Press, 1973. Original: PRIESTERTUM DER FRAU? Freiburg i/Br: Herder Verlag, 1969 (an unchanged doctoral dissertation of 1962 under the direction of Karl Rahner at the University of Innsbruck).
Pinchas Lapide, THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT. UTOPIA OR PROGRAM FOR ACTION? Maryknoll, NY: Orbis Books, 1986. Original: DIE BERGPREDIGT--UTOPIE ODER PROGRAMM? Mainz: Matthias Grünewald Verlag, 1982.
Heinrich Fries, SUFFERING FROM THE CHURCH. Collegeville, MN: Liturgical Press, 1995. Original: LEIDEN AN DER KIRCHE.

Articles (partial):

Pinchas E. Lapide, "Jesus in Israeli School Books," JOURNAL OF ECUMENICAL STUDIES. Vol. 10, No. 3 (Summer 1973). Pp. 515-531.
Karl Rahner, "Women Priests," NATIONAL CATHOLIC REPORTER (October 7, 1977). Pp. 7, 14. (Translated with Leonard Swidler)
Pinchas Lapide, "Dives in Misericordia: An Encyclical for Christians and Jews," JOURNAL OF ECUMENICAL STUDIES. Vol. 18, No. 1 (Winter 1981). Pp. 140-142.
"The Christianity of Heinrich Böll," CROSS CURRENTS. Vol. XXXIX, No. 1 (Spring 1989). Pp. 21-36.
Elisabeth Moltmann-Wendel, "A Woman Between Churches: Elisabeth Gnauck-Kühne, Sociolopolitical Scientist," THE AMERICAN BENEDICTINE REVIEW. Vol. 43, No. 2 (June 1992). pp. 207-219.

HONORS: