A Reflection on the Plenary Council
The position of delegate/member of the Plenary Council was bestowed upon me on one of the rare occasions that my age and sex have come in handy in the Catholic Church and society. At one of the first meetings I led in the second discernment phase, I was told I should go to the Plenary Council and, what’s more, I should speak up for women. I am proudly formed by the education of the Brigidines, the FCJs, the Mercy Sisters and the Loreto Sisters. If there is one consistent value that has been instilled in me from these strong, capable women, it is that my voice should be heard – it should be loud and articulate and always speak for people who need it most in our world. It was a privilege to be involved in the Plenary Council, knowing that I walked with and for all women in our church.
Inevitably, the second assembly will be remembered for the third day when the motions that involved the empowerment of women failed to pass. Standing in solidarity with the women in our church is something I will never forget. I felt the importance of being there, and though we were silent in our protest as we stood at the back of the room, we were loud in our actions. The women who had approached me in the lead-up to the assembly were with me at this time, and it was an honour to stand together with them and other women and men as we made it known that we were not going to accept this decision. The reports that followed, suggesting that this was a highly orchestrated political stunt intended to intimidate, were laughable. The women who stood up on this day were hurt, and they were not going to accept such treatment for themselves and all other women in our church.
This action has stayed with me, and a thought that remains a motivating factor moving forward in my role within the church is, “What am I going to tell my daughter?”. This thought has been front and centre when discussing the Plenary Council with my colleagues, family, other like-minded Catholics, or friends who question, “why do you stay?”. My daughter and generations of females to come deserve equity and equality within our church. Like men, women have much to offer. Women should not be pigeonholed into the nurturing and mothering role certain women at the Plenary Council wanted and were vocal about achieving. We should have the choice and opportunity to hear women’s voices and see them actively participating in roles that show all capabilities
These are not new and ingenious ideas. The Plenary Council showed that the Catholic Church is capable of listening and acting, and showed this very clearly on day three. They looked around, read the room, adjusted the program, and set a new agenda. This gives me hope. As strong, capable, and faith-filled women, we also showed what we were capable of on day three. We must continue to be vocal, organised, and loud in our approach to continuing to set this new agenda. To walk away quietly is not an option.
Author: Felicity Knobel, Assistant Principal Faith & Identity, Loreto College Ballarat