More than 150,000 people mobilized in France from October 2021 to April 2022. Thousands of Catholics who had thus contributed to this great reflection on the synod on synodality of October 2023 – it continues in a second session in October 2024 –, responding to the call of Pope Francis throughout the world. The collection of synodal syntheses clearly highlighted “ an emergency as well as countless injuries » on the question of the place given to women in the Church.
Published by the Conference of Bishops of France (CEF) in June 2022, the document highlights “ a flagrant disproportion between the number of women involved in the Church and the women who are in a position to decide “. A clear problem at a time when equality between men and women has become a common reality », noted the CEF.
Of ” many requests » They were also proposed so that women could receive diaconal ordination, with the expectation that the sermon could be delivered by women during mass. “The place of women in the Catholic hierarchy needs to be completely rethought, urgently and in depth, even theologically; numerous contributions insist on this point », warned the diocese of Périgueux.
“Mentalities have changed”
Recurrently, the demand also extended to priestly ordination. Reflections that found echo on a global scale” unanimously », noted the Instrumentum Laboris, the working document that summarizes the contributions of the faithful from around the world for the opening of the synod in 2023.
In France, groups of believers continued their reflections on this approach initiated by the synod for the 2024 session and the compilation carried out by the CEF of the summaries of sixty-four dioceses and twelve movements and associations puts the question of women back into focus. the foreground. honor, in particular praising the need for diversity within episcopal councils. “In ten years, the composition of the episcopal council has evolved with the gradual introduction of lay people who contribute a different perspective and are integrated into this mission. In 2014, a woman’s confession was sometimes misinterpreted. Today we see that mentalities have changed”The diocese of Carcassonne is happy.
The May 2024 document also gives voice to 700 young people who are asked “give your voice to the synod”. The look of youth is severe: “In our eyes, the Church offers counter-testimony. Although it continues to proclaim the equal dignity of men and women, it does not fully respect the responsibility entrusted to women: the majority are involved in the Church (parishes), they have very little decision-making power. Therefore, it is requested to highlight them in the distribution of authority. » We will see if his elders in Rome share this opinion.
