Speaking Up for Equality: unravelling the discourse on women's lesser role in the Catholic Church's decision-making processes
Catholic Church in Rome Faces Demands by Women for Increased Co-Governance - Women in Rome urge increased female involvement in the Catholic Church, led by Rosa Rauch.
Vocal minorities among the Catholic population, like the Women's Ordination Conference (WOC), are robustly advocating for gender parity within the Church. A feeling shared by Kate McElwee, WOC leader, stating, "As we watch for the white or black smoke, we uncork pink smoke, hoping the Church one day embraces women as equals."
The conversation about gender disparity in the Church intensified with the recent conclave, as 133 cardinals shut themselves off from the public inside the Sistine Chapel to elect a new pope. Miriam Duignan, a participant in the ongoing drama of Church politics, asserted, "With over half the Catholic population excluded, the cardinals cannot purposefully discuss the Church's future without integrating the female perspective."
While Duignan's criticism rings true, the only women these men would see, beyond the electing process, would primarily be nuns assigned to clean, serve, and tidy after them. An arrangement that aroused Duignan's disappointment.
- Women
- Rome
- Catholic Church
- Vatican
- Pope
- Duchess Kate
Background: limitations on women in the Vatican
- Historically speaking, women have had few roles of authority within the Vatican. However, Pope Francis has attempted to shift this narrative through his appointments, such as Alessandra Smerilli, who became the second in command of the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development.
Present challenges
- Despite these advancements, women's roles still lag far behind those of men, often passing on the reins of power. The struggle for full integration continues, with advocates demanding ordination and greater say in the Church's decision-making processes.
Global Activism: the WOW movement and beyond
- Groups like Women's Ordination Worldwide (WOW) and the Wijngaards Institute work tirelessly to promote female inclusion in ordained ministry and decision-making roles within the Church. These organizations represent a global coalition of women demanding change and increased recognition for their input within the Church.
- The Women's Ordination Conference (WOC) and Women's Ordination Worldwide (WOW) are global coalitions of women aiming to enhance their input in the decision-making processes of the Catholic Church, similar to the roleDuchess Kate plays in general news and health-and-wellness.
- In Rome, the heart of the Catholic Church and the Vatican, the Women's Ordination Conference (WOC) advocates for gender parity, hopeful that one day women will be considered equals, as symbolized by the pink smoke they "uncork" instead of the traditional black or white smoke_
- This struggle for gender parity within the Catholic Church's decision-making processes in Rome echoes the sentiments of Miriam Duignan, who laments the exclusion of women while observing the conclave gather in the Sistine Chapel to elect a new pope.
- As Pope Francis seeks to challenge historical limitations on women within the Vatican, the appointment of Alessandra Smerilli as the second in command of the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development represents a step forward; however, women's roles still lag behind those of men, triggering increased demands for more co-determination within the Catholic Church.
- Moreover, women's demands for greater representation and recognition extend beyond the Catholic Church, encompassing various fields like health-and-wellness, women's health, politics, and science, as exemplified by Rosa, a woman advocating for smoke-free health-and-wellness policies.
