Virgins for Jesus
• Catholic
American Roman Catholic women who pepetuate the evil and pointless cult of virginity.
These women pursue a spiritual vocation, but not as members of a convent or religious order. They work as teachers, nurses, lawyers or, like Stegman, certified public accountants. They support themselves, follow a life of prayer and, in the words of Catholic canon law, are "mystically betrothed to Christ."
On her left ring finger, Stegman wears a silver band fashioned to resemble an ancient oil lamp. It symbolizes her betrothal to Jesus Christ and evokes the imagery of the gospel parable about 10 virgins, five of whom had lanterns lacking oil. Without it, they were unready for the return of the bridegroom, a symbol for Christ.