Women and Ministry in Catholicism
A report by Angelika Fromm. Translated from the German
With this title, an international conference with committed theologians from all over the world and 600 participants, in presence and digitally, took place from 18.-19.9.23 in the Provostship St. Trinitatis in Leipzig, the Academy of the Diocese of Meissen-Dresden. With regard to the women's question in the Roman Catholic Church, the conference in Leipzig, the city of the peaceful revolution in the GDR, reflected a good mood with regard to the World Synod:
The call for gender equality, the renunciation of gender-based discrimination and the farewell to clericalism are raised worldwide, theologically underpinned by the image of God of all the baptized. This human good is crucial for the future and credibility of the Church. Unfortunately, there are still many persistent forces that ignore scientific findings, so we must not let up in demanding justice, freedom and human dignity.
Bishop Kohlgraf, as chairman of the Pastoral Commission, gave a greeting with the remark that the representation of Christ is not to be determined by gender.
Prof. Dr. Margit Eckholt emphasized that the thematic complexes of the German Synodal Path must be considered in the context of the universal Church and what relevance the topics have with the faithful from all over the world.
Dr. Catalina Cerda-Planes from Chile described the importance of women for Latin America and that, according to a study, 59% were in favor of ordained ministries for women, although she is skeptical whether the opening of ordained ministries is the solution to the church crisis. For them, the experience of faith is shaped by the respective culture and God is diversity. The Church is a community of dialogue in which the voices of women are particularly listened to.
For Prof. Susan Pascoe from Australia, in addition to the equal participation of women in office, it was also important to point out the different life situations of the people, especially in Oceania, with existential dangers, and the support programs against gender-based violence.
Sr. Prof. Ana Thea Filipovic from Croatia recalled that at the European meeting in Prague, the differences between East and West regarding the ordination of women became clear. When I asked about the consecrated women of the underground church, she replied that there were no contacts. The experience with the communist system had tended to cement traditional gender roles, and only individuals were more progressive.
Sr. Prof. Dr. Beatrice Faye from Senegal highlighted the important role of women in the congregations and in evangelization; but the authority is exercised by the male ministerial priesthood, and women feel humiliated and are, even though they form the "spine" of the local Churches.
Sr. Prof. Birgit Weiler, a missionary nurse from Peru, spoke forcefully about the masochistic and patriarchal structures in Latin America and the Caribbean that promote feminicide and violence against women. The language of the church also serves as a legitimation for domestic violence. After the Amazon Synod, CEAMA (Conferencia Eclesial da Amazonia) was founded, a synodal governing body with bishops, laity and religious. At the same time, there is also a growing awareness that without women "no church can be made". Many are also in favor of the diaconate of women, since they already lead and teach congregations. The Bishops' Conference has already entrusted women with the administration of the Anointing of the Sick. For them, it is a positive sign to change the structures and accept the multitude of vocations. Women are no longer allowed to be silent, hurts and contradictions are to be discussed, and synodality and communion are to be lived. Men should be educated to have a fair understanding of power.
Prof. Dr. Dorothea Sattler wonders how the relevance of Christian life can be witnessed today, wishes for a listening church and that the German synodal path continues to have an effect on the universal church, and points out that new ministries and ministries should be developed in the future.
Prof. Dr. Jean Ehret from Luxembourg emphasizes the "bubble" in which many clerics still live, calls for a rethink and asks what the Eucharist means concretely in life.
Prof. Dr. Regina Polak from Austria acknowledges the new findings of science, e.g. in gender issues, which should also be received by theology, and complains that spirituality often dispenses with intellectuality; Incumbents need a deeper spirituality, a differentiated theology of power, a theology of inclusion, and an interdisciplinary theology of unity for all.
The sentence "We understand the truth of God in the encounter" was uttered, i.e. also, learning together ecumenically.
Dr. Gilles, the first Secretary General of the German Bishops' Conference, has experienced herself as a projection screen for many, but she no longer wants to be a question, but an answer. It "is there" and makes it visible that women can also take on leadership roles; but she does not consider herself to be called to the sacramental ministry. Will she be able to change anything in her position, that is an unanswered question.
The former regional bishop Ilse Junkermann described how women's ordination has developed through a long history of insults in the Würtenberg Protestant regional church and what support, also from men, she herself has received, especially from the women's representatives. In the meantime, 40% of all positions in the regional church are female. One of her core phrases was "Women must promote women".
A special experience on Monday evening was the participation in the peace prayer in St. Nicholas' Church, the place from which the peaceful revolution in the former GDR started more than 30 years ago. A Christian woman who was there at the time recalled the sermon text of the "Trumpets of Jericho", which caused the walls of Jericho to collapse. What a picture of hope for us Catholics, who wish for the collapse of the Roman insistent "clerical walls"
The evening discussion was about the different developments in the universal church and it was asked whether the World Synod is really about justice in the sense of human rights or only about smaller leeway. Each generation can only go one way, and we need courage and serenity. I think that many believers no longer want to have this patience and that many things have to change structurally.
The conclusion of the conversation was the statement that we are appreciatively on the way together and can already try out new things!
The next morning, the focus was on gender equality. Regina Franken-Wendelstorf of the CWC (Catholic Women's Council) characterized the common role of Catholic women as a "sacrificial servitude" and the role of bishops as paternalistic. Abuse of power and sexual and spiritual violence are omnipresent, often everything is still repressed. But "incense against the musty smell", that is no longer possible today.
Dr. Samuel H. Canilang of the Philippines sees the nuns as cheap labor, but they are the bearers of the pastoral ministries. The situation of Christians in China is particularly difficult. He describes how sexism and domestic violence against women are socially entrenched and reinforce the dominance of the clergy.
Dr. Nontando Hadebe from South Africa reports on a women's march for equal rights in South Africa and on a 65% share of women in the parliament of Rwanda. This development contrasts with the situation of women in the Church in an imbalance. 170 women have described their life experience in the patriarchate in a letter to the Archbishop of South Africa, who stands with the women. A good theology needs educated women.
Luis Carlos Aguilar Badilla of Costa Rica, director of Caritas, wants to build a new culture of the image of men, empower women in equal roles and question the myth of the maternal, i.e. educational transformations against patriarchy. There are good results in the grassroots communities, but men are still comfortable with their privileges and do not want to give them up.
In the ensuing dialogue, the participants agreed that church structures need to change, that women as well as men can represent Christ, that new networks need to be formed, and that gender-based violence is a crime.
Dr. Helen Nambalirba Nkabala from Uganda asks how these goals can be achieved. There is a lot of disappointment because the reforms of Vat.II. have not gone any further. Today it's about inclusion and women from Africa have a strong voice.
Prof. Dr. Serena Noceti, theologian from Italy, sees the problems that women still hit a glass ceiling, only 6% of well-trained female theologians have a job. She doubts the extent to which the pope is committed to gender justice, even though he could be a role model. Ministers are only a part of the entire People of God: all the baptized should share in power.
Virginia Saldanha from India and a staff member at CWC calls for an end to gender discrimination; the clergy in India often still stand in the place of God. Women must be given access to education and they must learn to defend themselves. Unfortunately, there are still many femicides and society does not yet realize how much women are oppressed. Queer people also live dangerously. Virginia points to the Bible and wonders what Jesus would do today. As it is now, the kingdom of God cannot become a reality. We should all be building a new consciousness.
Renata Asal-Steger from Switzerland describes the somewhat different situation in Switzerland. Due to the state church law, the congregations decide on the finances themselves and women are active in pastoral structures even without ordination; they can preach, conduct liturgies of the word, baptize, and assist in marriage. They continue to fight for equality: "Equal dignity-equal rights".
In the ensuing discussion, it became clear that lay people not only want to be heard in synodal processes, but also have to participate in decision-making. Only in this way can the life experience of Christians be included and, if necessary, previous rules must be broken. The appointment of participants in the Synod must become more transparent. The fact that the Amazon Synod did not go any further in its reforms is also painful.
The concluding panel addressed the question of why gender justice is crucial for the future of the Church.
For Sr. Katharina Ganz, it is important to persevere with the will to reform and to network. We are strong daughters in spite of all toxic, hurtful opposing forces. The Church's teaching must adapt to the conditions of life. The power of the spirit should make free and not curtail.
Sr. Dr. Mary Nzilani Wambua and Sr. Prof. Dr. Caroline Mbonu describe that in Africa it is often a matter of pure survival, especially in war zones; Women usually carry the whole burden of the family. Girls need to be better educated in order to be able to defend themselves.
What's next? Networking with politicians and women's rights activists is important and our perseverance, because the church needs us and Christianity could "make the difference" in the world. Despite all the differences, the many voices were united in their call for justice, participation, global networking and necessary systemic change.
A more evangelical and synodal Church is the goal.
To do this, we "empowered ourselves and stood up," says Prof. Dr. Julia Knop.