by Margaux Salcedo
I was a little confused by the Table of Contents of the Final Synod Report because it seemed to be missing all the issues that had been identified in the Synodal Report in 2023. But after reading the entire report, indeed they are there.
As a woman, of course the first thing that I looked for were the statements on women. While there is no mention at all of any possibility of women becoming priests, and the issue of women becoming deacons was not resolved, saying that the issue needs “further discernment”, the Synod did not fail us. In fact, there are monumental statements that must be celebrated!
The first thing that stood out for me is this declaration:
Inequality between men and women is not part of God’s design.
Female voting delegates | Photo from The Tablet
Next was the loud, resounding acknowledgement of the frustrations of women, as if to unanimously say, “We hear you, ladies!”—
“The widely expressed pain and suffering on the part of many women from every region and continent, both lay and consecrated, during the synodal process, reveal how often we fail to live up to this vision.” (Final Document, No. 52)
“... women continue to encounter obstacles in obtaining a fuller recognition of
their charisms, vocation and roles in all the various areas of the Church’s life.” (Final Document, No. 60)
Photo from Vatican News
In response to these, the Final Document clarifies:
That inequality between men and women is not part of God’s design.
That the Bible recognizes gender equality and that gender differences are reconsidered in light of the dignity of baptism—
“Inequality between men and women is not part of God’s design. In the new creation, this difference is reconsidered in the light of the dignity of Baptism: ‘As many of you as were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ, there is no longer Jew or Greek, there is no longer slave or free, there is no longer male and female; for all of you are one in Christ Jesus” (Gal 3: 27-28). (Final Document, No. 52)
“By virtue of Baptism, women and men have equal dignity as members of the People
of God.” (Final Document, No. 60)
That disregarding women is detrimental to fulfilling the Church’s mission—
“... women continue to encounter obstacles in obtaining a fuller recognition of
their charisms, vocation and roles in all the various areas of the Church’s life. This is to the detriment of serving the Church’s shared mission.” (Final Document, No. 60)
That women should be allowed leadership roles in the Church—
“There is no reason or impediment that should prevent women from carrying out leadership roles in the Church: what comes from the Holy Spirit cannot be stopped.” (Final Document, No. 60)
As a call to action, the Final Document:
Very clearly states that gender equality must be respected—
“We bear witness to the Gospel when we seek to live in relationships that respect the equal dignity and reciprocity between men and women.” (Final Document, No. 52)
Declares that all opportunities for women provided for in Canon Law must be made available:
“This Assembly asks for full implementation of all the opportunities already provided for in Canon Law with regard to the role of women, particularly in those places where they remain under-explored.” (Final Document, No. 60)
States that it is important that women be recognized and highlighted in liturgical lectionaries, catechesis and even in the drafting of official Church documents, citing the role of women—
In Scripture —
“Scripture attests to the prominent role of many women in the history of salvation. One woman, Mary Magdalene, was given the first proclamation of the Resurrection. On the day of Pentecost, Mary, the Mother of God, was present, accompanied by many other women who had followed the Lord.” (Final Document, No. 60)
In history—
“Crucial turning points in Church history confirm the essential contribution of women moved by the Spirit.” (Final Document, No. 60)
c. In today’s world—
“Women make up the majority of churchgoers and are often the first witnesses to
the faith in families. They are active in the life of small Christian communities and parishes. They run schools, hospitals and shelters. They lead initiatives for reconciliation and promoting human dignity and social justice. Women contribute to theological research and are present in positions of responsibility in Church institutions, in diocesan curias and the Roman Curia. There are women who hold positions of authority and are leaders of their communities.” (Final Document, No. 60)
Asian Participants | Photo from Fr. Clarence Devadass Instagram
Additionally, there is a call to encourage greater involvement of women:
(1) In mission
“Mission involves all the baptized. The first task of lay women and men is to permeate and transform earthly realities with the spirit of the Gospel.” (Final Document, No. 66)
"The lay faithful, both men and women, should be given greater opportunities for
participation, also exploring new forms of service and ministry in response to the pastoral needs of our time in a spirit of collaboration and differentiated co-responsibility. In particular, some concrete needs have emerged from the synodal process. These need to be responded to according to the various contexts:
a) increased participation of laymen and laywomen in Church discernment processes and all phases of decision-making processes (drafting, making and confirming decisions);
b) greater access of laymen and laywomen to positions of responsibility in dioceses and ecclesiastical institutions, including seminaries, institutes and theological faculties; more fully enacting existing provisions;
c) greater recognition and support for the lives and charisms of consecrated men and women and their employment in positions of ecclesial responsibility;
d) a greater number of qualified lay people serving as judges in all canonical processes;
e) effective recognition of the dignity and respect for the rights of those who are employed in the Church and its institutions. (Final Document, No. 77) (emphasis supplied)
(2) In participatory bodies
“Equal attention needs to be given to the membership of the participatory bodies so as to encourage greater involvement by women,...” (Final Document, No. 106)
(3) In formation
First, that women must be included in formation:
"There was also a marked insistence throughout the synodal process upon the need for a common and shared formation, in which men and women, laity, consecrated persons, ordained ministers and candidates for ordained ministry participate together, thus enabling them to grow together in knowledge and mutual esteem and in the ability to Collaborate." (Final Document, No. 143)
Second, that women should be involved in the formation of ordained ministers:
“Throughout the synodal process, a widely expressed request was that discernment
and formation of candidates for ordained ministry be undertaken in a synodal way. There should be a significant presence of women, an immersion in the daily life of communities, and formation to enable collaboration with everyone in the Church and in how to practice ecclesial discernment. This implies a courageous investment of energy in the preparation of formators. The Assembly calls for a revision of the Ratio Fundamentalis Institutionis Sacerdotalis in order to incorporate the requests made by the Synod.” (Final Document, No. 148) (emphasis supplied)
Most of all, there is a call to LISTEN to women:
"… Jesus never sent anyone away without stopping to listen and to speak to them, whether men or women, Jews or pagans, doctors of the law or publicans, righteous men and women or sinners, beggars, the blind, lepers or the sick. By meeting people wherever their history and personal freedom had led them, He revealed to them the face of the Father. By listening to the needs and to the faith of those He met, and by responding through words and gestures, He renewed their lives, opening the path to healed relationships. Jesus is the Messiah who “even makes the deaf to hear and the mute to speak” (Mk 7: 37). He asks us, His disciples, to do the same and, through the grace of the Holy Spirit, the capacity to do it conforming our hearts to His: only “the heart makes all authentic bonding possible, since a relationship not shaped by the heart is incapable of overcoming the fragmentation caused by individualism” (DN 17). When we listen to our sisters and brothers, we are participants in the way that God in Jesus Christ comes to meet each of us." (Final Document, No. 51)
There are still doors that we cannot enter but I think this is a great leap forward for women at this point in our history. Thank you, Pope Francis, for listening to us and for encouraging the greater participation of women in the Synodal Church!
And to the ladies, remember this bit of theater wisdom: there are no small roles, only small actors.
Whether in a habit or in stilettos, let's do everything we can for mission—as women!
Photo from Bishop Mylo Hubert Vergara Facebook page
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