A new support group called MoMa Breastfeeding was launched by former La Leche League Great Britain trustees. The founders of MoMa Breastfeeding were ousted from La Leche League for their belief that only women can breastfeed. La Leche League has shifted towards gender ideology and inclusive language, which led to conflicts with some leaders. The breaking point in Britain occurred when six trustees were suspended for raising concerns about the inclusion of males in women-only spaces. The international group ordered all affiliates in Great Britain to offer breastfeeding support to all nursing parents, regardless of their gender identity.
5 months ago
A new support group, MoMa Breastfeeding, has been launched by former trustees of La Leche League Great Britain (LLLGB) to provide women-only support for breastfeeding mothers 1. Ruth Lewis, a co-founder, stated that the only males permitted in their meetings would be very young children 1. The group's mission is to offer free, voluntary, mother-to-mother support from pregnancy through weaning, emphasizing the protection of the mother-baby dyad 1.
MoMa Breastfeeding was formed in response to changes within La Leche League (LLL), which was founded in 1956 by Catholic women and originally aligned with Catholic moral teachings 1. Over time, LLL dropped its Catholic identity and, in recent years, embraced gender ideology, adopting "inclusive" language such as "chestfeeding" and "parent" instead of "mother," and allowing men who identify as women to participate in meetings 1. This pivot led to resignations, including that of Marian Thompson, a 95-year-old original founder of La Leche League International (LLLI) 1.
The breaking point in Britain occurred in early 2024 when LLLI issued an order for all affiliates in Great Britain to offer breastfeeding support regardless of "gender identity" or sex 1. Six LLLGB trustees, including Ruth Lewis, were suspended after raising concerns about the inclusion of males in women-only spaces and the use of gender-neutral language 1. The suspended trustees argued that "mother" is a sex-based term under UK law and complained to the British Charity Commission, which they believe protects single-sex organizations 1. A UK Supreme Court ruling in April, determining sex by biology, was welcomed by MoMa's founders 1.
MoMa's founders and supporters argue that gender-neutral language is damaging, detracting from the mother-baby relationship and making information harder to access 1. Justine Lattimer, a lawyer assisting MoMa, emphasized that the baby's needs have been overlooked in the push for "chestfeeding" and "parent" 1. She asserts that breastfeeding is a biological imperative, crucial for comfort, bonding, and the emotional connection between a mother and child, and is integral to "mothering" 1. Former LLL leaders, like Cynthia Dulworth and Paula Clay, concur that breastfeeding is a "sex-based reality" and a relationship between a mother and baby that is irreplaceable 1.
MoMa Breastfeeding's launch in May garnered significant attention, boosted by a "substantial" donation and public endorsement from author J.K. Rowling, who re-posted the group's announcement to her followers 1. This publicity helped cover startup costs, and the group has since received numerous small donations 1. Despite the controversy, MoMa aims to remain focused on its core mission of helping mothers breastfeed their babies, prioritizing clarity and the mother-baby relationship 1.
What is the Church's teaching on women's unique role?
The Catholic Church teaches that women and men have equal dignity as members of the People of God by virtue of their Baptism . However, they have distinct, complementary roles rooted in Christian anthropology and sacramentology . The Church emphasizes that this distinction in roles does not imply superiority of one over the other, but rather highlights the unique gifts and vocations of women , .
The Church affirms the profound dignity of women, which is rooted in their creation in the "image and likeness of God" . This dignity, gravely wounded in public esteem, must be restored through effective respect for human rights and the practical application of Church teaching . The Gospel, particularly the word and example of Jesus Christ, serves as the fundamental inspiration for understanding women's specific vocation .
While not called to the ministerial priesthood, women are integral to the Church's life and mission , . By Baptism and Confirmation, women, like men, share in Christ's threefold mission as Priest, Prophet, and King, and are thus empowered for the fundamental apostolate of evangelization . The Church encourages women's active and responsible participation in various fields of the Church's apostolate, recognizing their increasing share in society's life .
Women are called to utilize their unique "gifts" in this apostolate, particularly their dignity as persons, expressed through word and witness of life, and gifts connected with their vocation as women . Historically, many women accompanied Jesus in his ministry, assisted the Apostles, were present at the foot of the Cross, witnessed Christ's burial, and were the first to transmit the message of the Resurrection , . The Blessed Virgin Mary, as the "figure" of the Church and a model of holiness, precedes everyone on the path to holiness , .
The Church reserves priestly ordination to men, a practice it understands as stemming from the expressed will of Christ, who called only men to be his Apostles , , , . This reservation is not a matter of dignity or holiness, but of function, understood in the context of Christ the Spouse and His Bride, the Church , . The ministerial priesthood is a service, not a position of privilege or human power, and its authority is always a service to God's people , . The Church's fidelity to Christ's manner of acting means it cannot change this practice .
Women make significant contributions across various areas of the Church's life:
Feminine holiness is considered indispensable to the life of the Church , . The call to holiness is universal, embracing all women and men . Women who live in holiness are seen as a model of following Christ and an example of how the Bride (the Church) must respond with love to the love of the Bridegroom (Christ) , .
In summary, the Church's teaching on women's unique role emphasizes their equal dignity with men, their indispensable and active participation in the Church's mission through their distinct gifts and vocations, and their call to holiness, while maintaining the reservation of the ministerial priesthood to men based on Christ's example and the Church's understanding of sacramental theology , , , , , , , , , .