Dear Pope Francis: What About Women?

Popemania is sweeping the country since Pope Francis arrived like a rock star on U.S. soil recently. Who doesn't like this pontiff with the message of inclusion and the impish smile? In the midst of all of the accolades, however, it's easy to forget that the Pope is the head of a multinational religion with 1.2 billion followers and a glass ceiling deeply rooted in sexism.

A woman can never be a priest, bishop or cardinal. A woman can't ever be the Pope. Never. Just because of her gender.

Discrimination against women in religion is not against the law and it doesn't violate the Constitution. It isn't state-sponsored segregation. But it is discrimination based on gender and some of us find discrimination based on gender to be wrong. Period.

Our interpretation of the Constitution has changed and evolved over time to reflect changes in our culture and society. The courts interpret statutes and case law similarly. Why not interpret religion with an open-mindedness and inclusiveness to reflect a more equitable treatment of women?

Pope Francis wants all of us to be more inclusive of the poor and the disenfranchised in our daily lives. He wants us to be more accepting of immigrants and he has issued an urgent plea for action on climate change. I would like him to be more inclusive of women in the hierarchy of the church, to be more accepting of women priests, bishops and cardinals so that women would be eligible to be the Pope. I would like him to issue an urgent plea to treat men and women equally inside and outside of the church.

I have a dream that I wish Pope Francis shared. I have a dream that one day all religions will make opportunities and hierarchical positions available to people not based on their gender but based on the content of their character. But for now, unfortunately, that's just a pipedream for half the people in the world who happened to be born female.