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Woman and Man, One in Christ Jesus: The Executive Summary
On 18 August 1999, the Bishops released their landmark study of the participation of
women in the Australian Catholic Church, entitled Woman and Man: One in Christ Jesus.
Following is the Executive Summary of the 500-page report.
- The Research Project on ‘The Participation of Women in the Catholic Church in
Australia’ was undertaken for the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference by the
Bishops’ Committee for Justice, Development and Peace, Australian Catholic University
and the Australian Conference of Leaders of Religious Institutes. The Project was launched
by Cardinal Clancy on 21 August 1996 and the Report of the Project presented to the
Plenary Meeting of the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference on 12 April 1999.
- The overall aim of the study was to gather data on the participation of women in the
Catholic Church in Australia. In order to achieve this aim, the Research Project addressed
four key questions concerning various ways in which women participate in the Catholic
Church in Australia, assistance and support currently offered to women to enable their
participation, barriers to women’s participation and ways in which women’s
participation could be increased. It was intended that the information obtained would
provide a solid basis for theological reflection, pastoral planning and dialogue with
women and women’s groups.
- The Research Project used both quantitative and qualitative research methods including
contextual papers, written submissions, public hearings, a large-scale sampling of Church
attenders undertaken as part of the Catholic Church Life Survey, a survey of Catholic
organisations, and targeted groups involving voices which had not been heard in the
written submissions and public hearings. In the written submissions, public hearings and
targeted groups, responses were elicited from women and men from a variety of backgrounds
and ages, those actively involved in Catholic Church structures and those who were not.
- The project attracted an overwhelming response, significantly greater than the response
to similar consultations conducted in recent times in the Catholic Church and in the
broader Australian society. This in itself is a clear indication that the issue of the
participation of women in the Catholic Church in Australia is crucial and controversial.
- The research identified two broad approaches to the participation of women in the
Catholic Church: one oriented towards maintaining the current participation of women, or
even returning to the position of the pre-Vatican II Church, the other seeking an expanded
role for women.
- The dominant issue arising from the research was gender equality recognising the equal
dignity of women and men created in the image and likeness of God. This understanding of
equality did not imply the sameness of men and women, but rather their complementarity and
mutuality. The Church was seen to be lagging behind the wider Australian society in
recognising the changing role of women as one of the ‘signs of the times’ and
affirming the equality of women. The very limited participation of women in
decision-making at present and the need to increase women’s involvement in
decision-making at all levels were constant and major themes. Involvement in
decision-making was often linked with a call to promote opportunities for women to
participate in leadership in the Church.
- The research found that, while there is a range of views concerning women and the
Church, there is virtually no disparity of views based on gender. It is concluded that the
issue of the participation of women in the Church is not just a concern for women only but
rather an issue for the Church as a whole.
- Results of the Catholic Church Life Survey revealed that Church attenders have a
considerably older profile than the Catholic population in general, that women outnumber
men in the ratio of about three to two and that more than half of all attenders are not
involved in any regular way in other parish activities, although women are more likely to
be involved than men are. There is an under-representation of young people and of those
who are separated or divorced.
- The Survey found that the great majority of Church attenders have a strong sense of
belonging to their parish and feel that it is adequately meeting their spiritual needs,
have never felt unwelcome in the Church in recent years, and have been given sufficient
assistance to complete a task when they have accepted responsibility. Respondents
suggested that the best ways to increase women’s participation were through prayer,
increasing women’s involvement in decision-making and Church administration, and
reforming beliefs and practices that do not promote the equality of men and women. Three
quarters said they have neither experienced nor observed barriers to women’s
participation in the Church but more than a quarter said they did not accept the
Church’s teaching on the ordination of women.
- By contrast, the overall findings of the written submissions, public hearings and
targeted groups revealed a strong sense of pain and alienation resulting from the
Church’s stance on women. The results of these research approaches highlighted the
enormous contribution of women to all aspects of the life of the Church, except in the
ordained ministry, leadership and decision-making. It was perceived that little assistance
and support were received from the institutional Church to undertake anything other than
ancillary and support roles. Significant barriers to the full participation of women were
experienced. The fundamental barrier concerned traditions and attitudes which were seen to
be inconsistent with the person and message of Jesus Christ and especially his
relationship with women. The major suggestions to increase women’s participation were
the involvement of women in decision-making at all levels, a re-examination of the nature
of ministry with exploration of the possibility of more inclusive roles for men and women,
and reform of beliefs and associated practices that do not promote the equality of men and
women.
- There was much agreement, even among those with different views on the question, that
there should be open discussion of the issue of women’s ordination.
- One of the greatest challenges to emerge from the research is the need to create a range
of opportunities in the Church for respectful listening and dialogue concerning the
experiences, needs and aspirations of women.
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