Re: female equality?
There have been females designated with honors as "Doctor of the Church."
Lat. Doctores Ecclesiae) -- Certain ecclesiastical writers have received this title on account of the great advantage the whole Church has derived from their doctrine
St. Catherine of Sienna
St. Theresa of Avila
St. Therese of Lisieux
I suppose fair to question equality of females in the catholic tradition. Many do.
For myself...I think I would find strange a female priest celebrating mass....not because I feel a female isn't capable...only that it would be so completely different from what I am used to.
Though...we do have female "alter boys" at my church. My own niece even.