Contacts: Erin
Saiz Hanna, 401-588-0457
Marianne Duddy-Burke, 617-669-7810
Gathered
in Chicago for its annual meeting, October 17-19, 2014, the members of
Women-Church Convergence, a coalition of feminist Catholic groups, issued the
following statement as the Extraordinary Synod on the Family was drawing to a
close in Rome.
Women-Church
Convergence celebrates the diversity of families and affirms the holiness of all
families where love and commitment reign.
We
agree that challenges faced by families should be at the center of our Church’s
focus, but are concerned that women and families did not have active roles in
shaping the outcome of the Extraordinary Synod. The entire Church—not just
clerics for whom not creating families is a condition of their ministry—must
have active and equal leadership roles in the development of policy, theology,
and programs to address the myriad needs of families.
A
group of men who fail to protect the children of our Church from sexual abuse,
and who repeatedly sacrifice children to shield the offenders, has no
credibility saying anything about what families need. A group of men who have no
need for contraception has no standing to deny women access to appropriate
reproductive health services. A group of men without experience of wedded life
has no right to legislate who should and should not be married.
The
egregious omission of women and families in forming Church policy has a
devastating impact on Catholics and others worldwide. Instead of an obsession
with doctrine, families need the Church to dismantle systems of oppression, work
to end violence against women and children, stand firmly against war and the
destruction of our planet, recognize women’s moral agency, and honor decisions
about family life made with informed consciences and prayerful
discernment.
We
believe it is long overdue for all families to be welcomed into the sacramental
life of our Church. Far too many people are denied sacraments because of their
family status. We mourn this misuse of clerical power, which deprives families
of spiritual nourishment and connection to the Christian
community.
Women-Church
Convergence represents Catholic organizations committed to prioritizing the
needs of women and children. In our circles, all are welcome.
###
Women-Church
Convergence is a coalition of autonomous Catholic-rooted organizations raising a
feminist voice and committed to an ekklesia or women that is participative,
egalitarian and self-governing. Members endorsing this statement
include
8th Day
Center for Justice – Women in Church and Society Committee
Association
of Roman Catholic Women Priests
Catholics
for Choice
Catholics
for Choice-Canada
Chicago
Women-Church
CORPUS
DignityUSA
Greater
Cincinnati Women-Church
Loretto
Women’s Network
National
Coalition of American Nuns
Roman
Catholic Womenpriests
San
Francisco Bay Area Women-Church
SAS
– Sisters Against Sexism
WATER
– Women’s Alliance for Theology, Ethics and Ritual
Women’s
Ordination Conference
