Visioning the Church Women and Men Desire
Archdiocese Session: October 17, 2005

Dolores Seahorse, Board member of the Commission on Women
If ideas discussed at an archdiocese-sponsored “listening session” on how the Catholic Church should deal with women’s issues are typical, the powers that be are going to be knocked on their ears. The mostly all-woman crowd was mad about the role women don’t play in the Church, and it didn’t look as if the group was going to be meek and mild much longer. “We’re tired of the slow process,” one woman said. “We’re hearing the same things we heard 25 years ago. This meeting is just the Church throwing crumbs so it looks like something is happening.”

The session was facilitated by the Archdiocese Commission on Women which was formed about 25 years ago by Archbishop Roach to advocate for women. More than 30 participants from four parishes gathered at St. Joan of Arc on October 17th, to talk about concerns of women in the Church, to discuss which issues are not being addressed, and to find out what roles women would like to have in the Church. Commission member Dolores Seahorse said the meeting was one of 15 being held in the archdiocese and the findings will be shared with Archbishop Flynn and others. The group agreed that ideas should be reported, but the names of participants be private.

Second Class Citizens

The overriding concern of participants is that women are second-class citizens in the Church. They feel that ordination of women is an equal rights/justice issue, and that they are not being heard on this or on any other matter. One woman said, “Women are 50% of the membership but the power is 100% male.”

The group clearly wants women to be able to be ordained, to be permanent deacons, and to have a proportionate role in decision-making including a loud voice in how money is spent. One participant suggested that women put their considerable contributions in an escrow account where it would be held until women’s issues are recognized. Contributions would be decided by consensus which would probably result in more money going for the underprivileged. The group also would like to have a voice in electing the archbishop, a say in what is being taught in the seminaries, and they would do away with mandatory celibacy.

Views of Sexuality

A second major problem is the way sexuality is dealt with by the Church. It was pointed out that the “do not’s” regarding sex are overemphasized and that sexuality is misunderstood There also seems to be zero tolerance and lack of understanding of gays and lesbians, freedom of choice and birth control. Said one participant: “If catholic means universal, I don’t get it.”

Primacy of Conscience

Participants also said the historic primacy of conscience, once a significant doctrine of the Church, has been ignored by the all-male hierarchy for centuries. “God gave us freedom of choice. Why doesn’t the Church let us choose?” asked one woman. The group agreed that the Church needs to spend more time in learning how to deal with “gray” areas and that it is not equipped to deal with a mature faith.

Several participants think the Church should spend more time on social justice issues such as CEO salaries, pension plans, the poor, the environment and war. The Church should be inclusive, not exclusive. Communion should be open to all. Members also suggest the Church could benefit from a more joyful outlook, a real commitment to the sacramental life, and a redistribution of its wealth.

Jane Tschida has attended Joan of Arc off and on for about 35 years.  She and husband Paul are parishioners. Jane is a retired non-profit association director and has always been involved in public affairs. Her goal is to become more involved in social ministry at Joan of Arc, and writing for the web site is her first attempt.
Conclusions

And what if these changes don’t occur? It was pointed out that even if the archbishop wanted to, he has little power to make these things happen unless the Vatican alters dramatically. Suggestions on how to remedy that situation were not timid. Many of the participants say that unless the Church recognizes the equality of women and changes the male hierarchical way of governing, unless it changes its views on sexuality issues, and unless it recognizes primacy of conscience, they will take dramatic steps. They will participate in boycotts, withhold money, and, if all else fails, split from or abandon the Church. As one participant says, "We will find a new Joan of Arc to lead the way."

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