FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE October 26, 2008
| Contact: Sr. Christine Schenk | 216-228-0869; 216-513-3647 (US cell..after 2:00 p.m. EST October 27) |
FutureChurch Statement on Proposition 17 Ministry of the Word and Women (see full text of proposition below) “Proposition 17 represents a good faith attempt by the world’s Catholic Bishops to acknowledge the enormous contributions made by “delegates of the Word” (easily half of whom are women), in the developing world where there is little to no access to Mass because of the priest shortage. It is a significant sign of progress that women’s leadership as animators of faith communities and presiders at services of the Word, is at last being recognized and affirmed by the universal Church.
While FutureChurch warmly welcomes this recognition, our Bishops would do well to expand preaching opportunities for prepared lay women and men in the developed world as well as in the developing world. The ministry of lector, while not formally named as such, is already open to women who have been proclaiming readings at Mass for well over 30 years. It is difficult to understand what is to be gained by formally naming women as lectors. Rather our bishops would be better advised to reopen the discussion of changing mandatory celibacy rules and ordaining women to the diaconate as important next steps in their inclusion in all the ministries of the Church. “
FutureChurch Statement on Proposition 16 The Lectionary (see full text of proposition below) “FutureChurch congratulates synod fathers for suggesting a reexamination of the lectionary to evaluate if texts are adequate to this time in our history. If we want to reach the next generation of Catholics, there is a need for Catholic proclamation of the Word to reflect the gender balance found in Jesus and St. Paul's counter cultural practices. Opening the lectionary for possible revision allows church leaders to restore the witness of women leaders such as Phoebe and Mary of Magdala, whose stories have been deleted or made optional. Cooperation with other denominations and with the eastern rite churches will enrich and expand gender-balanced proclamation of the Word throughout the Christian communion.”
About FutureChurch’s Women and the Word: Synod 2008 Campaign For the past two years FutureChurch spearheaded an international Women and the Word campaign that asked Bishops at the Synod on the Word to restore women leaders such as Mary of Magdala and Phoebe to lectionary texts from which they have been deleted. An estimated 20,000 paper and electronic postcards also asked the synod to invite women biblical scholars, devote greater pastoral attention to the inclusive practice of Jesus and St. Paul and expand preaching opportunities for women. The Synod was held in Rome October 5-26.
In July and August FutureChurch sent a packet of materials to all the English speaking bishop delegates to the Synod, including clerics in the U.S. the UK, Ireland, Australia, the Philippines, Canada, India and Africa. The packet included a list of 23 female biblical scholars available to serve at the synod and copious background materials about lectionary omissions regarding women leaders.
A fascinating 1996 analysis by Sr. Ruth Fox OSB found a disproportionate number of passages about women had been deleted from the lectionary, a book of biblical passages carefully chosen for church proclamation. (article available for free download at
http://www.futurechurch.org/watw/womeninbibleandlectionary.htm)
“We’re encouraged that the Vatican did invite women experts to the synod,” said FutureChurch director, Sr. Christine Schenk. “Now we hope the Holy Father will agree to take another look at the lectionary texts that completely delete women leaders or make them optional. We need to recognize the many “women of the Word” who played such important roles in our earliest history.”
For the past eleven years FutureChurch has sponsored annual celebrations of the Feast of St. Mary of Magdala to promote understanding of Jesus’ inclusive practice and provide a place for women to serve in visible liturgical roles.
For more on the Woman and the Word: Synod 2008 campaign visit http://www.futurechurch.org/watw/index.htm
Proposition 17 Ministry of the Word and Women The Synod Fathers recognize and encourage the service of lay people in the transmission of the faith. Women, in particular, have an indispensable role in this especially in the family and in catechesis. In fact, they know how kindle listening to the Word, the personal relationship with God and how to communicate the sense of forgiveness and evangelical sharing. It is hoped that the ministry of Lector (lectorate) would be open also to women so that the Christian community might recognize their role in announcing the Word.
Proposition 16 The Lectionary It is recommended that an examination of the Roman Lectionary be opened to see if the actual selection and ordering of the reading are truly adequate to the mission of the Church in this historic moment. In particular, the connection of the Old Testament with the Gospel passage (pericope) should be reconsidered in a way that not does lead to a too restrictive reading of the OT or an exclusion of some important passages. The revision of the Lectionary could be done in dialogue with those ecumenical partners that use this common Lectionary. It is hoped that there will soon be authoritatively examined the problem of the Lectionary in the liturgies of the Eastern Catholic Churches.
FutureChurch, headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio, is a U.S. coalition of 5,000 parish centered
Catholics striving to educate fellow Catholics about the seriousness of the priest shortage, the centrality of the Eucharist (the Mass), and the systemic inequality of women in the Catholic Church. FutureChurch makes presentations throughout the country, distributes educational and informational packets and recruits activists who call on Catholic leadership to open ordination to all baptized persons who are called to priestly ministry by God and the people of God