Down the ages men have been perceived to be the sole recipients and transmitters of divine messages. Women on the other hand, have been socialized by patriarchal religious structures and practices to passively accept religious teachings as interpreted by men.
These androcentric and patriarchal interpretations have defined and shaped the social and cultural contexts of women resulting in their disempowerment and second class status.
The key of women’s involvement with religion is hidden in women’s bodies. Women in fundamental ways are locked in their bodies, and their exercise of power is at the pleasure of men, whether in the family or in the religious sphere. Thus, religion is not just about spirituality, beliefs and practices alone, but it is also political. These political practices however, belong to structures of the mind that are not inviolable. They can be broken by recovering the spiritual and humane. It is on this recovery that women’s survival and unfolding as humans hangs. (Extract from Statement of National Consultation, Hyderabad, 2016)
What is your experience of the Roman Catholic Church’s treatment of women?
My main objective in writing to you is to let you know that the reform I feel is needed in the Catholic Church is for women to be admitted to the decision making processes in the Church and also to have their vocations recognised. Women are called by God in various ways to follow Christ in the Church and the world. Women are being called to the priesthood but this is not recognised by the male dominated hierarchy of the Church.
God is saying to the Hierarchy and to Pope Francis, “Why have these women not been allowed to enter the vineyard?”
We women with vocations from God will in the end be allowed to enter the vineyard – we are so sorely needed now more than at any time in history. There are so many attacks on Christianity. It is severely under threat from the uninterested West to the destructive East.
The message is – God is calling us to serve as priests in the Catholic Church. How much longer will the Pope and the decision making Hierarchy be deaf to God’s call to women?
Please enter these comments in your Report to Synod.
Kathryn Graham
Member, CWO (Catholic Women’s Ordination)
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