As this year’s Synod on Synodality begins in Rome, women and religious women in South Africa have reached a new level of dissatisfaction with the Church and with Pope Francis himself.
Theologian and spiritual director Annemarie Pauline-Campbell said Pope Francis was a great leader in many ways. “But when it comes to the issue of women’s ordination, he seems to have already made up his mind and has no intention of looking into this issue,” she said.
There have been two Vatican commissions on the ordination of women to the Diaconte, in 2016 and 2020, but their reports have not been made public. “Where’s the transparency in this?” Ms Pauline-Campbell asked. “It’s hard to see that these weren’t just patronizing attempts to appease women.”
She said: “I feel a deep sense of disillusionment when the Church, on the one hand, says it must be a church that listens to the synods, and on the other hand, it seems to have once again taken the diaconate for women off the table.”
This “really undermines the whole idea of listening and traveling together,” Ms Pauline-Campbell said.
There were high hopes that the Synod on Synodality would specifically address this issue. The discussion was on the agenda for the first meeting in October 2023, but was removed from the agenda for the second meeting this month. Ms Pauline-Campbell said Pope Francis’ comments in an interview with US media in May – reaffirming that women would never be ordained as deacons – “severed the last thread of hope that many women were holding on to.” , some have now decided to leave.” ”
Biddy Rose Tiernan (SNDdeN), one of South Africa’s most famous and beloved religious women, wonders why there seems to be such deep-rooted fear among the ordained people who lead the Roman Catholic Church. He said he continues to ask this question. “Is it power? Is it insecurity? So many women are well-educated in theology, the Bible, and history.”
“Jesus was revolutionary in his inclusion of all people as disciples and friends,” Sister Tiernan said. “I keep looking for reasons why I hesitate, fear, or refuse in this way. Because when I understand the reasons behind any decision, I can better accept it. It’s from.”
HF’s Kathy Murugan said: “It will be interesting to hear what’s behind Pope Francis’ change in policy on women’s diaconte (discussion).” “”
She said she does not believe God’s call is “selective and biased.” Sister Murugan said, “By excluding women from fully responding to God’s call, the Church is committing violence against women.”
Nontando Hadebe, a member of the Society Concerned about the Voice and Preaching of Women Theologians and Catholic Women in Africa, said women’s equality was central to both continental and national priorities. “We have the highest number of women in parliament, leading the world. In Rwanda, for example, 60 percent are women,” she said. “The church (in Africa) is isolated and isolated.”
“But there is another side to this,” Ms. Hadebe said, pointing to the “lack of a visible, active grassroots movement among Catholic women in Africa for women in the diaconate.” Mentioned. Many women in Africa are “cut off and isolated from their sisters around the world, both inside and outside the church, who advocate for women’s rights.”
Catholic women in Africa took some comfort from comments by Archbishop Buti Tragar, Archbishop of Johannesburg, South Africa. The archbishop warned bishops in southern Africa of the “deep-seated” anger of some women because “we have excluded them from ordination.”
In a homily at the plenary session of the Southern African Catholic Bishops’ Conference in August, Archbishop Tragar told bishops that despite continued overall support for the church among women, “Priests and bishops don’t necessarily have a good reputation (with bishops).” they). Archbishop Tragar said that prejudice against women should be included among other sins “when confessing.”
He noted that churches readily admit women into their congregations, and that women are “in fact the majority in every community…” But for some reason, prejudice against women has taken hold among the Catholic clergy, and I don’t think we’re going to do anything about it right now. ”
In the aftermath of the coronavirus pandemic lockdown, South African women are facing the return of an old enemy: gender-based violence. According to crime statistics for Q4 2023 and Q1 2024, a rape is reported every 12 minutes in South Africa. Commenting on this tragedy, the archbishop asked why so many men care for their mothers, are concerned about their dignity and respect, but when it comes to their wives, they “grow into such beasts against women.” He said he couldn’t understand.
He likened the issue to the treatment of women in the church, saying, “We may not be beating our wives, but we are doing something to them, and women are very vocal about it.” We feel it and we’re not doing anything about it.” “Deep down they call us names because we exclude them.”
Ms Pauline-Campbell said she was encouraged by the bishop’s harsh assessment, saying: “Finally, someone in a position of authority in the African church is speaking out about how women are treated both in our society and in the church. This is because someone has emerged who is speaking out strongly.” She added: “The fact that the archbishop has spoken to other bishops and made it clear that many women feel angry and excluded makes women feel seen and acknowledged in some ways.” It may not be the case, but it gives me hope,” he added.
Sister Murugan said that if Archbishop Tragar carried out further analysis, “it would be possible to understand why and how violence against women is so prevalent in society.” he said. She argues that the church promotes inequality and stereotypes between men and women. Sister Murugan said: “Unless this practice and behavior by (male) clergy in the Church is challenged and changed, the Church, as an institution of society, will continue to be complicit in and perpetuate violence against women.” Ta.
Ms Pauline-Campbell acknowledged that some men in positions of power in the church support women in ministry, including the ordained ministry. “But sadly, they rarely use their voice and influence to advocate for women in the church,” she says.
She added that “sympathetic allies in the church” are trying to encourage women by saying: As time passes, things will change. She said this is of “little consolation to women who feel a strong call to enter the priesthood, but who know that the chances of it becoming a reality in their lifetime are very small.” said.
“Many women stay in the church because they love the church, despite the pain they feel, and leaving is a limited time to challenge the church’s stance on ordination. “It means giving up even the influence that was given to us,” she said.
“For a long time women have held out hope that things would change for the next generation, but sadly that generation is now leaving in droves,” Pauline-Campbell said. She says that just as they have no deep-rooted allegiance to the church, they also seem unwilling to listen to their voices and to see women as equally imageable of Christ. ” he warns.
