SThe proceedings open today, 4 October, in the Paul VI Hall of the Vatican Synod of Bishops, which will last until the end of October. And for the first time women will also vote: there will therefore be synod fathers and mothers, with tablets in hand to express their opinion. There will be 449 participants: 365 will have the right to vote. Of the 85 women present, 54 will be admitted to vote. It will not be a revolution in the literal and “political” sense of the term. But it definitely marks a turning point.
Synod of bishops, women also vote for the first time
The novelty of this passage is told in this article fromRoman observer by Lucia Capuzzi and Vittoria Pisciandaro. Already in 2018, a petition to ask that “women, religious superiors, work and vote in the same way”, promoted by some organizations committed to equality in the Church, collected thousands of signatures. A giant step was then, in February 2021, the appointment of Sister Nathalie Becquart as undersecretary of the Synod of Bishops.
Among the women who will vote at the Synod of Bishops, lay and consecrated from every part of the world, even Helena Jeppesen-Spuhlera laywoman who held various roles in the Swiss Catholic Church, very committed to human and environmental rights. Of decidedly progressive positions.
The women’s question in the Catholic Church
The “female question” in the Church has emerged on several occasions. A survey carried out last March by the Women’s Observatory of the World Union of Catholic Women’s Organizations (Umofc/Wucwo) tells of a widespread aspiration to participate equally in the Church. And it calls for urgent changes in structures so that they are more equitable, inclusive and close to the most vulnerable. The women ask for full recognition of their baptismal dignity and as persons.
Divorced and LGBTQ: we will also talk about these controversial topics
It is not yet clear whether the Synod will lead to concrete changes in the practices of the Catholic Church. But there will certainly be an explicit discussion of the issues that have divided the conservative wing from the progressive wing in recent years. Such as the inclusion in the life of the Church of those who have so far been kept on the margins, such as divorced people and LGBTQ+ people.
The Dubia on the blessing of gay couples
An indication of the “tone” of the Synod of Bishops comes from Pope Francis’ responses to the 5 Dubia raised by five cardinals. He has doubts on the question of the blessing of homosexual couples, on the ordination of women to the priesthood and on the sacramental absolution given to everyone and always, without conditions.
The Pope’s responses are “soft”: neither open nor closed. The marriage it is «an exclusive, stable and indissoluble union between a man and a woman, naturally open to fathering children». And “pastoral prudence must adequately discern whether there are forms of blessing, requested by one or more people, which do not convey a wrong concept of marriage.” However, “when you ask for a blessing, you are expressing a request for help from God, a plea to be able to live better, a trust in a Father who can help us live better”. Francis, therefore, does not close the doors to the possibility of some form ofI’m a blessing for gay couples, as long as it creates confusion by making it look like a wedding.
And on the female priesthood…
On the ordination of women, the Pope recalled that John Paul II had stated definitively the impossibility of conferring priestly ordination on women. But he urged recognition “that a clear and authoritative doctrine on the exact nature of a ‘definitive declaration’ has not yet been comprehensively developed.” The ‘no’ to women priests “is not a dogmatic definition” and “can be an object of study”.
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