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Archbishop Carroll's Speech at launch of Social Justice Statement 2000

ADDRESS BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE AUSTRALIAN CATHOLIC BISHOPS’ CONFERENCE AT THE NATIONAL LAUNCH OF THE 2000 SOCIAL JUSTICE SUNDAY STATEMENT 'WOMAN AND MAN: THE BISHOPS RESPOND':

In April 1999 the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference received the Report on the Participation of Women in the Catholic Church in Australia entitled, Woman and Man; One in Christ Jesus.

It is now my privilege and pleasure to launch the Bishops considered response to this Report which also serves as the Statement for Social Justice Sunday in the Jubilee year of 2000.

The description of the Church as the Pilgrim People of God has been rediscovered in recent times,  reflecting the Second Vatican Council’s understanding of a people on the move, led by the Spirit of God but with feet firmly treading the dusty ground of humanity.  Thus the Church reveals and lives throughout time, the mystery of the Word made flesh, who dwelt and continues to dwell amongst us.

This image of a Pilgrim People is certainly one of my favourite images of the Church.  Several wonderful experiences of the Jubilee Year have reinforced this preference and enriched my understanding of it.

It has been my privilege this year to be part of two great pilgrimages. Firstly there was the Pilgrimage to the Heart, where National Heads of Churches, with young representatives, travelled by bus from Canberra, the National Capital, to Uluru, a place sacred to indigenous peoples of Australia and quickly becoming a uniting symbol for all Australians, at the Centre, the Heart,  of our great Nation. The defining quality of this pilgrimage was that of reconciliation - between Christian Churches - between the many cultures that make up Australia and  - perhaps most significantly, between indigenous and non-indigenous Australians.

Repentance, forgiveness and reconciliation will mark every pilgrimage and must always feature in the life of the Church as a Pilgrim People.

The second great pilgrimage that I experienced, was that of the World Youth Day.  More than two million young people responded to the invitation of the Holy Father, Pope John Paul II, to come to Rome to celebrate with him the Great Jubilee of 2000.  It is difficult to choose a defining quality of an event so incredible in its diversity and dimensions.  Perhaps for me, it was that of unity, of communion, both in the joyful celebration of the Christian tradition handed down from the past, and in the enthusiastic commitment of the young people to carry the old, but ever new message of the Gospel into the future.

The unbroken continuity of the Pilgrim People’s journey was powerfully symbolised in, that this celebration and commitment took place in the youthful  heart of the Church,  at the instigation of its eighty year old custodian of the keys of Peter.   Along the way it was exciting to see a growing realization of, and pride in their Catholic roots and tradition as the young pilgrims wondered at the beauty and antiquity of historical and sacred places.  It was also sobering to ponder the challenge facing them and the whole people of God in finding new wineskins for the new wine of their vibrant faith seeking expression in the vastly different circumstances of a new millennium.

On its continuing journey the Pilgrim Church must always hold in sacred communion, the tension of a faithful remembering of the past and a trusting embrace of the future.

What has all this to do with the Bishops response to the Report Woman and Man; One in Christ Jesus.  Firstly, the process leading to the publication of the Report and of producing the Bishops response, has itself been something of a pilgrimage and not an inconsequential one at that.  Of course the pilgrimage began much further back.  Even before the Second Vatican Council, our newly beatified Pope John XXIII, pointed to the significance of the emerging question of women’s roles in the Church and in society.

The Council’s deliberations on the Church, notably with their emphasis on the baptismal dignity, equality and responsibility of all Christ’s faithful, both men and women, broadened the horizons.  Since the Council, developments both in general society and within the Church, have seen much soul searching, questioning, debate, agitation and dialogue along the pilgrim way.  This has involved all members of the Church, but for many women there has been a deeper level of searching and an added experience of suffering.

Long before the Second Vatican Council, the Church had been on its pilgrim way.  It now stands on the threshold of a new millennium.  As we consider the participation of women in the life and mission of the Church, we draw from that long tradition and keep the future perspective of a continuing journey.

The notion and experience of a pilgrimage, both speak of a group of very disparate individuals who nonetheless share a corporate identity and purpose.

There is need for order and direction but it will often be the messy togetherness of a family picnic rather than the discipline of an army on the march.  Different times and situations will call for different works of service and forms of leadership.  The changing terrain and environment, as well as the capacity of the pilgrims themselves will affect the pace of the advance and tensions will arise between those who wish to rush ahead and those who want to sit down and rest.  There will always be need for forgiveness, mutual acceptance and reconciliation. There must also be the passion for unity born of a shared vision of faith, the law of mutual love and the ultimate goal of the reign of God.

There seems little point in reviewing the already well known history of the project that has brought us from its launching in 1996 to this point today.  At any rate it is summarized in the Statement itself.  The early release of the Bishops response, which is this year’s Social Justice Statement, probably absolves me from the need to describe its contents in any great detail.

The Report Woman and Man; One in Christ Jesus, revealed hurts and frustrations experienced by many women in the Church even as it recorded the happy fulfilment of others.  The Bishops wish to nourish the positive experience, while addressing the negative in real and constructive ways.  The Australian Bishops have already expressed our sorrow and regret for hurts experienced by women because of injustices or the denial of full acceptance and recognition in the life of the Church.  Personally and on behalf of the Conference, I reaffirm that regret now and pray for the healing of reconciliation.

Some of the pain of women in the Church, may well have come from a lack of recognition of the undoubtedly major contribution they have always made to the Church.  For instance, it is all too easy to take for granted, the daily heroism of mothers of families and homemakers, of religious women who for generations gave their all in service of their brothers and sisters, especially the poor, and of the multitude of quiet voluntary workers in the Church and the wider community, the majority of whom are women.

The Bishops would wish to recognize these and so many areas of activity, which are foundational to the life of the Church and the building up of the reign of God both within and beyond the Christian community.

In many other instances however, the experience has been a hurtful one of unjust discrimination, exclusion and a sense of being disregarded and disempowered.  The Bishops themselves wish to address these areas and to encourage all members of the Church to seek solutions.

It is probably fair to say that the Bishops’ Statement is mostly general in its tone and points more to starting points and statements of intention than to final decisions, or resolved issues.  I believe that this broad approach is not only justified, but is necessary given a number of factors.  I also believe that it is a sign of authenticity because it commits the Bishops and the wider Church to long term dialogue and endeavour.

The Statement is being made by the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference.  As we have indicated in our response, our consideration of the Report and our response to issues raised in it, have been done in full awareness of our Communion with the Universal Church, our faithfulness to its traditions, and our adherence to its teachings and teaching authority.

While we do not wish any persons or groups to be excluded from participation in the life of the Church, some positions voiced in the Report, could not be accepted because they are in conflict with Church teaching.  While this teaching must be clearly stated and adhered to, the Bishops remain “willing to dialogue with women about these matters for the sake of mutual understanding and in a spirit of Christian love”.

As well as honouring their communion with the Universal Church, members of Conference are also very aware of the need to respect the rightful independence of local Churches and the authority of their proper pastors. This is both a recognition of the nature and structure of the Church, as well as a common sense appreciation that, to be effective, most decisions must be taken and actions implemented at local level.

In fact, the final section of the Bishops’ Statement lists about thirty individual proposals which it says that Bishops and their diocesan churches might wish to consider for possible action at local level. These proposals have come from the report and cover a wide range of issues.

In this regard and also to other matters raised in the response, it would be a mistake to think that we are starting from nothing.  Many examples could be given from the different diocese around Australia where much has already been initiated and considerable progress has been made. I think of the encouragement and promotion given to the active participation of lay Catholics, both women and men in the life and work of the church and the development of collaborative ministry.  At parish and diocesan level, wide consultation has become the norm in the formulation of pastoral policies and practice.  The large numbers of lay people in the Church involved in theological and pastoral studies and formation is a significant development of recent years.  Clearly much more needs to be done but promising developments and initiative should not be disregarded.

In the Report, Woman and Man; One in Christ Jesus the special place and needs of indigenous peoples generally and of their woman in particular, were recognized.  In our Bishops’ Statement we have sought to respond by encouraging greater dialogue especially in the areas of liturgy, ministry and leadership.   Clearly, these are important aspects of the fundamental movement towards genuine reconciliation.

A number of decisions have been taken in maters where the Conference has committed itself as a body to take action.  These seek to achieve a better balance of men and women at the national level in councils, organizations and advisory bodies, in leadership roles and in professional roles within the Church.

In a number of areas the Conference intends to use it various commissions and agencies to study, research and develop policies.  For example, in the areas of employment, ecclesiology, ministry in the Church and theology of the human person.  Clearly, the liturgy is a major aspect of Church life and one in which many pastoral issues arise that affect the participation of women.

A major decision of Conference announced some months ago, was to establish the Commission for Australian Catholic Women. This is described in the Statement. It is not a Commission made up exclusively of women, but is designed to promote the participation of women in the Catholic Church in Australia.    It is to act as a focal point for ongoing dialogue and assist in the implementation of the decisions and recommendations of Conference concerning the participation of women.   A supporting office is to be provided to assist with the work of the Commission.   I am hopeful that the membership of the Commission will be able to finalized at the next meeting of the Bishops Conference in December this year.

In conclusion, I believe that the Pilgrimage of extending the participation of women in the life and mission of the Church, is well and truly on the road.  It will be a long journey which at times will have its difficulties.   It is essential that we understand that this pilgrimage is a journey of faith.   Unless we have the mind of Christ and a great love of the Church as his body, we will have forgotten who we are.  Unless prayer and the discernment of the Spirit are basic to our questioning, dialogue and decisions, we will lose the way.

There must be a place and respect for all who wish to participate in the life and mission of the Church community.  This will call for great tolerance, compassion and mutual love between men and women, between lay and ordained members of Christ’s faithful, and dare I say it, between women themselves.

It is essential that we all undertake this pilgrimage with complete sincerity, with openness to each other and to the Holy Spirit.  In all good faith, I now offer this Bishops’ response as a further indication of our sincerity and our desire that the life and the mission of the Church might be enriched by an increased participation of all its members and especially women.   Equality and dignity of all must be recognised.  The gifts of all must be treasured.

May the Spirit direct and lead us on our pilgrimage, Woman and Man; One in Christ Jesus.

+ Francis P Carroll
President Australian Catholic Bishops Conference
13 September 2000