Yesterday, Pope Francis, speaking to members of the International Theological Commission at the Vatican[1] called on theologians to ‘demasculinize’ the church.
At face value, this may sound radical, and I admit that for the Roman Catholic Church it probably is.
However, the “gendered-ness” that is implied in this benevolent call of the Pope to ‘include’ ‘the feminine’ perspective is problematic. It is problematic to polarise the feminine and masculine as these are gender categories of socialisation that are very much products of hierarchical cultural conditioning.
When we do sessions on gender equity and gender justice in some Protestant churches in India (that I belong to), we start with activities to differentiate between sex and gender – the former being biological and the latter being social constructs i.e., cultural attributes that are socialised or learnt (and can therefore be changed). “Feminine” or “masculine” connote a certain set of behaviour and thinking as opposed to the other, and both are dictated by socio-cultural factors in a particular context. Both feminine and masculine are categories that need to be problematized.
I can fully agree with what this article reports the Pope as having said:
“There is something I don’t like about you, if you excuse my honesty,” said Pope Francis, pointing out that there were only five women among the 30-plus theologians. “We need to move forward on this! Women have a way of reflecting on theology that is different from us men,” he added.
The increased presence of women in the RC Church that the Pope and the Synod on Synodality seem to be calling for when the article says:
Bishops and laypeople, including an unprecedented number of women, took part in October’s Synod on Synodality at the Vatican which in its final report demanded a theological reflection on the role of women in the church, as well as the possibility of allowing women to become deacons,
is to be welcomed.
I have no argument that the visible presence of women in the Roman Catholic church is nothing close to what it should be, and I agree that women do reflect on theology in a different way. But our difference in theologising has more to do with the standpoints that we have chosen as a result of our experiences – of sexism, racism, casteism, and ableism – we face in our particular socio-economic-cultural contexts. If it is based on our ‘gendered’ lenses of socially constructed feminine (as opposed to masculine) perspective, then we cannot expect much systemic change in the RC church. The so-called ‘feminine’ gendered traits like submissiveness, obedience, silence (being seen but not heard!), and tipping a hat to male headship, so on and so forth – scripts that we have socialized women to internalize – are most definitely NOT what is going to ‘demasculinize’ the church.
Despite this benevolent call from the pontifical head, make no mistake that what the Synod on Synodality is condescending to ‘consider’ even at this point is ‘allowing’ women to become deacons. Not the ‘full and just participation’ of women as their right in the body of Christ as those created in the image of God! The article itself points out that deacons cannot celebrate Eucharist or hear confession. I am aware that change cannot happen overnight and we need to be patient – This is what we have been told from forever! How long must women wait to be given handouts, bit by bit! When it is not theirs to withhold or ‘allow’ to women in the first place! Full participation in the body of Christ is the right of every woman, child, and person with disability.
This is why I am wary of any change that is couched in gendered language of ‘demasculinization’ rather than ‘full and just participation.’ And that my friends, is what I see the Pope Francis calling for:
the need to increase the space given to women in positions of authority and decision-making in the Christian community, in order to treasure the sensibility and intelligence that is typical of the feminine genius and experience, …
If synodality is to truly be a way of ‘journeying together’ while living out our faith, then the ‘together’ cannot be qualified in hierarchical terms where women are ‘allowed’ certain roles and still denied certain other roles in the church. This only reaffirms the gendered notion that celebrates ‘feminine genius’ at the altar of ‘full and just participation.’ The feminization or masculinization of the church is not the solution. Both constructs are part of the problem, not the solution. As Audre Lorde said, “The Master’s tools will never dismantle the Master’s House.”
The radical feminist revolutionary vision of the Magnificat that Mary the unwed mother who nurtured a radical revolutionary in Jesus to implement, is what the church needs. Breaking down of all ‘power-over’ systems – be it in the church, the market place, the home, or socio-cultural and political systems – is what will transform the church. Not a reversion of masculine to feminine. Not the condescending ‘allowing’ of bits and pieces!
I stand with all the faithful in both the RC Church and the Protestant churches the world over “who also (continue to) serve by only standing and waiting” for the church to finally become the interwoven, interdependent, body of Christ with no ‘power-over’ systems that exclude anyone.
We will not leave the church because it is not yet ideal. We will stay. We will bide our time. We will not become enamoured or fooled by handouts. We will fight for our right to full and just participation. And have it with dignity that God bestowed on all of us created in God’s image. Not in bits and pieces that a kyriarchal male-centric system deigns to hand out to us!
[1] Claire Gaingrave, “Pope Francis asks theologians to ‘demasculinize’ the church,” accessed 1 Dec 2023, https://religionnews.com/2023/11/30/pope-francis-asks-theologians-to-demasculinize-the-church/
