The Synod paves the way for an “ecclesial we”

With the Synod, a process has begun of recognizing equality between men and women in the Church. The documents address both participation in governance and decision-making processes, as well as pastoral and ministerial roles. The Final Document acknowledges that nothing prevents women from performing these roles in the Church. The issue is not theological. The cause lies both in the ecclesial culture that does not promote women as full subjects of rights and in the current institutional model that does not foster “healthy relationships between men and women”. The Document for the Continental Stage called for the creation of a new ecclesial culture, with practices and frameworks that recognize the “rights and duties” stemming from baptismal dignity.

After the Council, Belgian Cardinal Léon-Joseph Suenens stated, “there is no super-baptism, no caste, no privilege. We must become aware of these fundamental truths because they are essential for the life of the Church and condition all choices, all attitudes”. However, in the synodal process, members of the hierarchy have testified that, “as bishops, we recognize that the baptismal theology which Vatican II inspired has not been sufficiently developed”. Therefore, the inclusion of women in ecclesial structures, far from being a gesture of goodwill, is based on the theological truth that, “by virtue of Baptism, men and women enjoy equal dignity in the People of God”.

Based on this theology, the Synod called for the implementation of “existing legislation on the role of women.” A recent case in point is Pope Francis’ appointment, for the first time, of a woman Prefect for the Dicastery for Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life. However, he also appointed a cardinal as pro-Prefect. This is a new position, as it is customary for the Prefect to have only a secretary and an undersecretary as collaborators. In this case, the Apostolic Constitution Praedicate Evangelium was applied, which allows the non-ordained to lead bodies, not only with consultative but also deliberative functions. However, the appointments occur within a framework of delegation of power by the sacrament of Orders and not on the baptismal foundation.

It is necessary to take another step and think about structural reforms starting from baptism. This implies a reconfiguration of identity and the exercise of power among subjects in the Church, which is no longer based on the sacrament of orders, but on the radical equality of baptismal dignity, with consideration of models of co-governance and “shared decision-making” of an “ecclesial we”. This will be one of the challenges of the third phase of the Synod’s implementation for the development of a synodal Church.

by Rafael Luciani
Lay theologian, consultant for the Latin American Episcopal Council and the Latin American and Caribbean Religious Confederation, among the Experts of the Synod (from Venezuela)