Remembering towards a more inclusive future

 

pathways, September 2009

 

(Remembering)

 

 

As a member of the original working party established in the mid-90s, then one of the authors of the report and later a member of the new Commission for Australian Catholic Women, Sr Sonia (pictured) was in an excellent position to provide a retrospective for a conference called to mark the publication of  "Woman and Man: One in Christ Jesus" 10 years ago.

 

Women:  Gathering, Affirming, Celebrating was held in Canberra late in August. As part of the process, two women from each diocese were invited to participate so the group had a clear and common purpose - to share what is currently happening or not happening in the various dioceses and to gain insight, inspiration and direction for the future.

 

"There was great energy and enthusiasm generated at the conference," Sr Sonia said.  "Many women said they would return to their dioceses aware of the challenges they faced but not daunted by them.

 

"It was definitely a conference that marked a new time in the progress of 'Woman and Man: One in Christ Jesus'.

 

"While recognizing that there is still a long way to go to achieve its goals, it was acknowledged that it is still a rich and relevant resource to bring to the needs of the Church and world at this time."

 

Women: Gathering, affirming, celebrating drew 65 women and men from across Australia to look at what had been achieved and to plan a way forward in the light of what had not been realised and also changed circumstances since the study and the subsequent Australian Catholic Bishops' response through their annual social justice statement for 2000.

 

According to the Office of the Participation of Women director, Kimberley Davis (pictured), the ways forward include using technology, making better use of good news stories through the media and going back to the recommendations to ask if a particular recommendation is still relevant.  Participants also returned to their homes enthused to work locally in their own dioceses.

 

In her retrospective, Sr Sonia reminded the conference the project grew out of a world shift in the attitude towards women that was first picked up by the Church in 1963, when Pope John Paul XXIII, reflecting on the signs of the times, identified the emergence of women asserting their right to be treated with dignity and equality as one of the major thrusts of the times.  (Pacem in Terris, n 41).  Locally, the bishops began receiving suggestions from a wide range of people emphasising the role and status of women as a social justice priority.

 

In June 1994 the first of 15 meetings of the research working party was held and the project was under way.

 

Sr Sonia said the overall aim of the study was to gather data on the participation of women in the Catholic Church in Australia in order to provide a solid basis for theological reflection;  to dialogue with women and women's groups and for pastoral planning.

 

"The project hoped to foster growth in mutual understanding by bringing substance, historical depth and accuracy to the conversation - within Church circles and beyond.  Many believed that they were engaged in a process of fundamental change," she said.

 

However, there were mixed reactions to the news of the survey.

 

"Many were excited and encouraged that the Bishops had initiated the project with, to use Cardinal Clancy's words, a desire to learn from it.   From the outset they demonstrated a seriousness of commitment to that task.  (Yet) despite a prevailing climate of hope there were fears expressed, fears that surfaced as nervousness, cynicism and skepticism."

 

The response was overwhelming.  Among it, 2500 written submissions, public hearings on 32 days at which more than 500 people spoke in 23 regional and capital city centres in 22 dioceses, a large-scale sampling of Church attenders through 4500 questionnaires from parishes in 28 dioceses and 50 targeted groups.

 

"That process itself was successful and often gathered people who would not normally come together.  They spoke with passion and for the most part were listened to with reverence," Sr Sonia said.

 

Competent evaluators, from within and outside the Catholic Church, with significant academic experience and capacity to scrutinise the report, gave strong support, she said.  Some of the comments from evaluators were:  A rich multi-layered project ... unique of its kind ... has produced reliable and representative data ... it is an honest, candid appraisal of the subject ... a valid and sound reflection of current attitudes.

 

The report was published in full as "Woman and Man:  One in Christ Jesus" on August 18, 1999.  The Bishops responded on September 13, 2000, with nine decisions of national significance and 31 proposals for possible implementation at diocesan level.

 

One December 11, 2000, the Bishops announced the establishment of the Commission for Australian Catholic Women.  Its first meeting was held on February 2, 2001, in Sydney.

 

In May 2006, the ACBC reviewed its structures.  As a result, the Commission became a Council - advisory to the Bishops Commission for Church Ministry - with a changed mandate.  The Office for the Participation of Women was established.

 

As she drew her detailed retrospective to a close, Sr Sonia, said:  "The signs of the times and our own experience tell us that there is still a long way to go if the gospel is to be preached as good news and the Bishops' hope of ensuring that the dignity of women is honoured and their gifts are given space to flourish for the sake of the Church's life and mission. (ACBC Social Justice Statement 2000) is to be realised.  Challenges present themselves; none of them, in my view, insurmountable."

 

However, she raised issues of accountability, assessment/refocus and dialogue.

 

"The 2006 structural changes from Commission to Council for Australian Catholic Women raise concerns that the location of the engine room for change and the lines of communication and accountability are somewhat unclear.

 

"Once responsible for reporting directly to the ACBC, the Council's role is now to advise the Bishops Commission for Church Ministry.  So, who is ultimately responsible for ensuring that the participation of women remains on the agenda?

 

"What accountability is there regarding the decisions and proposals contained in the Bishops response to Woman and Man?  What happens if a particular diocese does not see the participation of women as an issue?  What can be done to ensure life and growth for the Church in these circumstances? ...

 

"Questions of assessment, evaluation and refocus received constant attention as the project unfolded.  The original CACW was charged, by the Bishops, with the responsibilities of monitoring the development of strategic planning and evaluation of the outcomes of the ACBC recommendations.

 

"The Council does not have these same responsibilities.

 

"Of the nine decisions, decisions 1, 6 and 7 were selected for priority attention.  I assume that setting a manageable agenda for the Council and for the Office for the Participation of Women were driving forces in that move.

 

"That is understandable and in many respects wise.  It does raise the question, however, of what happens to the rest of the decisions?"

 

Sr Sonia said the research and the report placed the issue of the participation of women as a whole Church issue, clearly and unambiguously on the Church's agenda, modelling a process for dialogue, demonstrating that collaboration does work and pointing a way forward.

 

"One of the tasks of the Council is to provide advice to the Bishops about ongoing dialogue and the integration of ideas. Without being unduly pessimistic, I am aware of the difficulties involved in getting a structure and process to work at the national level.  Has the Council got the reach, the resources and the networks to enable that to happen?

 

"Communication with diverse church groups was expected of the original women's commission and office.  I wonder if this is still seen as an important aspect of the mandate, and if so, how does it happen?

 

"As a church community we are seriously challenged to develop our capacities for honest exchange, for speaking the truth in love without being divisive. We need institutional creativity, a dynamic Catholic culture where questions about the participation of women and other issues as well, are acceptable and even welcomed.

 

"The Bishops made a commitment to listen and learn and to dialogue with those people who are hurting because of Church teaching or pastoral practice.  They said they are willing to dialogue with women about these matters for the sake of mutual understanding and in a spirit of Christian love.  Let us continue to take them seriously."

 

The Woman and Man Project was a call to action for the whole church - not just for the Bishops, she said.

 

"Recalling the Church's teaching on the sensus fidelium confirms this whole Church community privilege and responsibility...  A fresh understanding of the role of the magisterium and the sensus fidelium might ask: What does this really mean in practice for us?  What are the pastoral implications?

 

" ... It is my hope that the work identified by the Woman and Man Project, will continue to be 'in progress'.  It is my hope that the report would be used as a tool and a resource in identifying and addressing the issues that face our Church communities today.

 

"While structures and processes, commissions and councils, decisions and proposals are indispensable, the real changes, we know, will occur in the hearts and minds of people who respond to the call of the Gospel.

 

"Remembering:

"May that dream become reality.

 

"Let us savour the wisdom of Habakkuk's prophetic message for all times.  The vision still has its time, presses on to fulfilment, and will not disappoint; if it delays, wait for it, it will surely come.  (Hab 2: 2-4)"

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other speakers included Dr Mary Coloe PBVM (above) on "Women in Scripture", the Rev. Dr Sarah Bachelard, "Accepting the gift of our creation: Practising Christian meditation", Dr Nereda White, "Indigenous women in leadership", Ms Kerry Bush, "Real women" and Ms Carmel Ross, "Dealing with trauma and recovery". The dinner speaker was broadcaster Ms Rebecca Gorman.

 

Participants also attended a reception at the Archbishop's house, hosted by Archbishop Mark Coleridge (Canberra-Goulburn) and one at Government House, hosted by the Governor General, Quentin Bryce.

 

Ms Davis said the conference process allowed participants to hear what had been happening at the diocesan level, to be with those who were struggling and to engage with the question, "where to from here?"

 

She said the response had been very encouraging and details would be published on the Office for the Participation of Women website as soon as possible.

 

Participants had expressed appreciation that the speakers and workshop presenters had also been conference participants and so were available for networking and further conversations throughout the conference, she said.

 

top, Cary McIver, Therese Vasarotti and Elizabeth Delaney SGS at the Archbishop's reception.

above, Marie Duffy RSM who represented Catholic Religious Australia at the conference.  ACLRI, as CRA was know then, was one of the parties behind the report.

 

 

the NINE NATIONAL DECISIONS

 

the HISTORY of the project as outlined by Sr Sonia

 

FULL TEXT of the RETROSPECTIVE ...  CRA website ... OPW website (in PDF format)