Women priests in Sweden share their experience of raising children and carrying out their church duties.
The egalitarian nature of the Nordic countries is reflected in their Lutheran churches. Denmark ordained women in 1948, Sweden in 1960, Norway in 1961 and Finland in 1988.
Reverend Dr Margit Sahlin was one of the first three women ordained in Sweden in 1960. The groundbreaking decision to admit women to full time ministry had been debated at length by Lutheran theologians prior to the ordinations but was not universally welcomed.
Although Rev Sahlin bore the brunt of much criticism, she received support in equal measure. She believes that diversity has benefited the church.
The priesthood has been multiplied, in a way.
Rev Ulla-Britt Berglund is based in central Stockholm. As a mother to three children, she maintains that family life has helped her be a better pastor.
It helps me very much to understand people.
The Catholic church is well known to be against female ordinations, and the issue still continues to be divisive among Protestants. Rev Sahlin explains many Swedish Lutherans struggle with the idea of women in the priesthood. She describes this level of discord in their community as,
A deep sorrow.
'Radharc In Europe: Amongst Women' was broadcast on 14 April 1994. The narrator is Fintan Drury.
'Radharc', a series specialising in religious programming, was produced for RTÉ by Radharc, an independent production company run by Catholic priests and lay staff.
'Radharc' can be translated to English as 'view'. Founding director Fr Joseph Dunn put together a team of priests, some of whom had received training in television production in London and New York in the late 1950s.
The 'Radharc' team made their first production in 1960 in Donegal, a short film about customs relating to St Brigid's Day. The first programme in the 'Radharc' series for RTE was broadcast on 12 January 1962.
Between 1961 and 1996 the Radharc team would produce over 400 hundred films from Ireland and around the world. The films often dealt with issues relating to peace and justice both at home and abroad.
The popular religious affairs series ended production in 1996 after the death of Fr Joseph Dunn.
