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by Angela M Cornyn, Sunday Independent 15th Oct.
2000.
The Irish Catholic bishops have now made their position on the role of women
in the Church very clear. You are not wanted because you are female. No fine
words, or vague inanities on the dignity of women, can cover up the
misogynistic, male-dominated caste system it seeks to maintain at all
costs.
On
Wednesday last, the Irish Catholic bishops announced plans to introduce the
permanent diaconate to Ireland whereby married men aged 35 and over and single
men aged 25 or over could apply to become deacons. These men would be ordained
ministers in the Church and thus belong to the clerical order.
This
move by the bishops has been described by, it must stated, men as innovative,
long overdue and to be welcomed unreservedly. Perhaps these are
‘’knee-jerk’’ reactions to a monolithic hegemony, which
seems to move at a snail’s pace in implementing any change and responding
to ‘’the signs of the times’’ as Vatican II urged.
As a
lay Roman Catholic woman, I am appalled, angry and deeply saddened by the
bishops’ decision. It is a black day for women who are theologically
educated. It heralds the death knell for even the possibility of women’s
ministerial involvement in the Church in the foreseeable future.
What
is so different about this decision by the bishops? In the recent past, women
have been told by the bishops that they cannot enter into dialogue on the issue
of women’s ordination to the priesthood because Rome has ruled that not
only is it not a possibility, it may not even be discussed.
On
this occasion the bishops had a choice. They were free to act independently of
Rome, for they were not under pressure to implement the permanent diaconate.
However, they chose to reinforce the caste system in the Church by
strengthening the clerical order. They could have chosen to open their doors to
lay women, to employ them in parishes where already the priest shortage is
beginning to hit. Yes, it would be done out of necessity rather than desire,
but better that than not at all. In doing so, they would be recognising
women’s talents and putting these at the disposal of the Christian
community they purport to serve.
It
cannot seek refuge in Rome or in the twin homes of scripture and tradition on
this issue. It has laid its soul bare. One can only admonish them as a group
for their lack of courage and vision at this time in our history.
At
present in Ireland, there are hundreds of lay women who have filled the empty
seminaries, which would have had to close but for their support. These women
have studied theology for several years, at their own expense. They do not
enjoy the cosseted environs of the seminarian; rather they incur great
hardship, living often in rat-infested flats, working in part-time jobs and
borrowing from family in order to survive; they are making a huge commitment to
their faith and graduating with fine degrees but have no place to go but the
dole office.
The
bishops’ response to these women is that we are sorry but we do not have
the money to employ you. Yet these bishops have no problem with funding the
training of men for three years to become deacons.
I
call on the women and men of Ireland to stand in solidarity with theologically
educated women and refuse to accept male deacons. Do not collude in your own
oppression. Let your voices be heard loud and clear, stop your financial
support, vote with your feet and withdraw your presence and labour from an
organisation which treats women as invisible. This is of discrimination against
women. Justice must be done now.
*
Angela M Cornyn is a lay Roman Catholic catechist, theologian and writer .
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