Not separate and distinct from the people whose service it is to be in

The XVI Synod of Bishops generated a sense of hope for a more inclusive Church and a greater role for women in ministry and leadership. Hope, women are learning, can become a tool of oppression. By providing just enough “breadcrumbs” or incremental changes to give the illusion of progress, Catholic women’s grievances are being dismissed. Inaction and tokenism preserve the status quo.

In 2021, the global network Catholic Women Speak commissioned the International Survey of Catholic Women to investigate Catholic women’s views and experiences for a Synod submission. The survey, led by researchers at the University of Newcastle in Australia, captured the complex diversity, insights, and shared concerns of more than 17,000 women in 104 countries. Most respondents saw a need for reform in the Church; two thirds supported radical reform. Many expressed hope that the Synod would initiate concrete changes.

Almost 8 in 10 respondents agreed ‘Women should be fully included at all levels of church leadership’; two-thirds agreed ‘Women should be eligible for ordination to the priesthood’. Yet, there will no discussion of women’s access to diaconal ministry at the second session of the Synod. Ordination to the presbyterate receives no mention. Potential change now rests with a forthcoming document on the role of women in the Church. Expectations are low.

Women reported that despite being responsible for much of the day-to-day running of the Church, they are encouraged to defer to priests with reverence and even awe yet are themselves dismissed or treated with indifference. Ministerial priesthood must not be separate and distinct from those it serves, but a diverse and inclusive representation of the Church's spiritual and communal life.

For Catholic women who drew strength and hope from the synodal journey, the promise of another document, an upcoming commission, and a future synod is like following the path of breadcrumbs Hansel left in the fairy tale. Unfortunately, as Hansel and Gretel learned, following breadcrumbs doesn’t always lead to the intended destination. “Breadcrumbing” – the process of offering hope of change without meaningful action – stands in sharp contrast to sharing the Bread of Life which women’s full and equal participation will signal in abundance.

by Tracy McEwan
Theologian and sociologist of religion at the University of Newcastle, Australia