Vows Quotes
While most of the Council of Trent was very conservative in that they were dealing with the threat of Reformation and the Protestants, this particular Cannon is profoundly liberal. Women, who had virtually no rights had often been “sent” to a convent by a father or guardian, the local priest or bishop, and in some cases even a husband. This established for the first time that women could not be forced to take vows—a major step in the evolution of the freedom of women in Western society.
This idea which would become seriously considered in the 1960s, was a totally radical one at the beginning of the 19th century. With people living so much longer, the idea is no longer radical but has become another polarizing issue in the political culture wars. See {627925} where Shelley goes even further.
