The Forum > General Discussion > Women in the Christian church
Women in the Christian church
- Pages:
-
- 1
- Page 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- ...
- 60
- 61
- 62
-
- All
The National Forum | Donate | Your Account | On Line Opinion | Forum | Blogs | Polling | About |
Syndicate RSS/XML |
|
About Us :: Search :: Discuss :: Feedback :: Legals :: Privacy |
A comprehensive report on the participation of women
in the Australian Catholic church was commissioned in
August 1996 by the ACBC (Australian Catholic Bishops'
Conference). The process involved the largest research
and consultation project ever undertaken by the
Australian Catholic Church. If nothing else, it
indicated that there was a realisation among some
of the bishops that something had to be done about the
relationship between women and Catholicism.
However in the years since the Report was published the
Australian church has done very little and the
alienation of women, especially younger women, grows
deeper, even though according to Dr Paul Collins in
his book, "Believers: Does Australian Catholicism
have a future?" tells us that 76 per cent of pastoral
care in the Australian church is carried out by women.
One of the most striking findings of the Report was
that women comprised 74 per cent of those undertaking
undergraduate studies in theology and almost 64 per cent
of post-graduate theological studies.
Therefore the church already has a highly trained cadre of
women to take part in the ministry and the priesthood
as soon as that becomes a possibility. This is an
enormous potential resource for the Church.
It does seem a shame that the Church doesn't see it
that way. The movement for the Ordination of Catholic
Women (OCW) is a very active movement,
and it will continue to call
for a renewed priestly ministry. They believe that:
"A renewed ordained ministry of both women and men
will function in a relational rather than hierarchical
manner...Our desire is to operate in a faith community
that nurtures values of equality, inclusiveness, understanding
and tolerance, one which encourages a transcendent
spirituality that is imbued with a sense of compassion
and the ability to reach beyond oneself...We believe a
renewed ordained ministry with women and men having an
equal role in leading the church is integral to
sustaining the precious gift of the Catholic faith that
has formed us. A renewed ordained ministry would revitalise
pastoral care and sacramental ministry."