Bogoslovska smotra, Vol. 88 No. 3, 2018.
Original scientific paper
Women and Men in the Church. The Possibilities of Realisation of the True Communication and Cooperation
Silvija Migles
orcid.org/0009-0001-0101-8267
; Catholic Faculty of Theology, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
Abstract
The presence and active engagement of women in the Church is the topic of many discussions in the Church and in society. It would be unfair not to acknowledge openness and willingness of the Catholic Church in Croatia for creating the space for larger presence of women in the Church life. In various areas of life and activity of the Church in Croatia women are giving their contribution through various roles they have in organising pastoral care, in the area of upbringing and education, in ecclesial offices, and wide areas of hospitality and charitable activities of the Church. Starting from the factual presence, but also the lack of discussions on the nature of that presence, the author detects and discusses three points that seem important for reflection on the possibility of achieving true communication and cooperation between men and women in the Church. The first point, Between Clericalisation of Women and Fruitless Feminism points out two extremes that are not entirely absent, but nevertheless not extensively discussed in the ecclesial‑theological discourse in Croatia. The article points out the third way on which, according to the author, a discussion should be initiated. This is a way that is built on the premise of deep conviction of the power of ecclesial potential and includes a mental turnaround of men and women in the Church. This turnaround is situated in »theologising men and women« (E. Green), who are wisely deciding, in the reality of their religious beliefs, where to direct their theological and spiritual powers, while putting effort into making the voice of the Church resonate in democratic and pluralistic society. The second point, Building the Church on Communication and Relations between Men and Women, focuses on analysing the necessity of communication between men and women as the basic requirement for true cooperation in the ecclesial life. The factual reality of male‑female relations within the Church and their mutual cooperation is not a sufficiently present topic in the ecclesial‑theological discourse. With his incentives and examples Pope Francis encouraged the development of theology of women within the frame of reflection on mutuality of relations between men and women. Within that perspective ´the woman issue´ includes the necessity of deepening that relation and becomes an issue of the Catholic position on women, men, and their relations. The article does not wish to run away from the problem and hard issues that prevent the fruitful cooperation between men and women in the Church, like narrow‑mindedness and lack of engagement at various ecclesial levels and in the practical area. The article points out that there is a need for the present Church to speak more about itself, so that it might grow in its understanding of the relation between women and men, and the understanding of the Church itself. The third point, Specific Contributions of Women, points out the extraordinarily important and fundamental contribution of women to the realisation of dialogue and cooperation within the Church. In that sense, the words of the Synod of Bishops in 1971 are significant: »We would also like women to get their own part of responsibility and participation in the common life in society and in the Church. We propose that this issue be studied further by appropriate instruments, such as mixed commissions composed of men and women, religious and lay persons from various life situations, and experts from various disciplines« (Justice in the World). In that sense, the social teaching of the Church makes it possible to deepen the role and place of women in building up culture of dialogue and cooperation in the Church and to open spaces of increased participation of women in the ecclesial life.
Keywords
woman and man; woman issue; cooperation and relations within the Church; communication; social teaching of the Church.
Hrčak ID:
207874
URI
Publication date:
8.11.2018.
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