It was very painful for me to watch the your visit to the USA. I became acutely aware of the absence of women’s presence. No where, were women included in welcoming you Papa Francis as you arrived, nor were they present at prayer services. It became all to clear to me, not only am I, but all women are voiceless in the Church, but now we are also invisible. The synod is composed of 270 bishops, not one woman has a vote! Women are the heart of the church it is through them that the faith is passed on. How can you talk about family when half of the family is not present to share their faith experience. Many years ago, someone in our church community was having serious doubts as to whether to have her daughter baptized. At the time, I thought she was over reacting. Today I think she was more on target than I was. She did not want her daughter to be a 2nd class citizen, as a 72 year old woman I am getting tired of waiting to enjoy full status as a member of this church. If we are baptized then we should enjoy full participation in all the sacraments.
The People Speak Out
Local voices connecting globally
This is important: to get to know people, listen, expand the circle of ideas. The world is crisscrossed by roads that come closer together and move apart, but the important thing is that they lead towards the Good. (Pope Francis) |
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Canon Law 212 calls upon the laity to speak up:2 - The Christian faithful are free to make known to the pastors of the Church their needs, especially spiritual ones, and their desires.§3. - According to the knowledge, competence, and prestige which they possess, they have the right and even at times the duty to manifest to the sacred pastors their opinion on matters which pertain to the good of the Church and to make their opinion known to the rest of the Christian faithful, without prejudice to the integrity of faith and morals, with reverence toward their pastors, and attentive to common advantage and the dignity of persons. |
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