Officia, munera

Eduardo's post appeared while I was drafting my last.  I have to run, but first I'd just say in haste that, in my view, the Church's unequivocal affirmations of the equal dignity of all persons are in no way undermined by her affirmation that, by divine law, natural law, or other valid law, certain (categories of) persons have (and others do not) particular offices or functions.  The fundamental and unalterable equality of persons frees us to appreciate individuals' particular (and sometimes sacred and elevated) roles in the community.  Discrimination is the wrong issue/question, as concerns the life of the Church as we're discussing it here; the sources of officia and munera are the heart of the matter, as I see it.