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CLERICAL SUPPRESSION OF WOMEN
Joe Mulvaney • Oct 19, 2021
“The evil that disguises itself under the garments of salvation is the worst”
Sadly, the patriarchal Roman Catholic Institution will remain abusive, deficient and dysfunctional until the clerical suppression of women is ended. Pope Francis is right that we must say “no” to clericalism for once and for all. I hope and pray that the forthcoming Synod leads to equality, justice, respect and a better world for women worldwide.
We were all horrified at the recent French report into clerical abuse and cover up. Jean-Marc Sauvé is the President of the Commission which produced the report. He stated, “the evil that disguises itself under the garments of salvation is the worst”.
As you read this, women in Afghanistan are being abused, suppressed and denied their human rights. That awful reality is indeed “stomach churning” to quote a recent headline in the “Irish Catholic” over an article chastising Fr. Roy Donovan of the Association of Catholic Priests for comparing the Church with the Taliban with regard to the maltreatment of women.
At this moment, some women are being battered and abused by men poisoned with the patriarchal virus of domination, control and entitlement. That is also “stomach churning”.
At the same time, the Roman Curia and obedient bishops within the clerical club continue to proclaim their cruel policy of apartheid for women, denial of the Sacrament of Holy Orders and implacable refusal to grant equality and justice to women in the leadership, governance, teaching office and ministry of the Roman Catholic Church. This Church of 1.3 billion people has done great good works. It is very influential and, if reformed, has tremendous potential to bring further Good News for women and men. It is true that the curial clerics do not wield guns or whips and the worst horrors of the Inquisition are in the past. However, the males with scarlet skirts and “garments of salvation” still wield undue influence over devout people and underdeveloped regions. Their honeyed denigration of women is an ongoing policy and quite insidious. They hold resolutely to the misogynistic teachings of the Ancient Fathers. It seems especially wrong and the opposite of Good News when any elite boy’s club uses religion for the suppression of women. That is all truly “stomach churning” especially when there is no clear indication that they “get it” or are prepared to listen to half the human race, many of whom are poor and vulnerable.
Meanwhile, the majority of Irish Catholics have long ago discerned that suppression of women is evil and that it is unjust to deprive the Catholic parishes of the unique talents, charisms and pastoral ministries of women. The vast majority of Irish Catholics celebrate the equality and inclusion of women in all aspects of our Republic. Sadly, a huge gap has developed between the clerics and the people in regard to the important issues of women, sexuality, governance and power sharing. Good pastoral priests, who are appalled at the clerical suppression of women, do their best to speak out but find themselves under fire from people programmed to favour a much smaller elite church in the shape of a nineteenth century cult. It is perfectly understandable that many Irish Catholics are walking away from abusive patriarchs and outdated narrative. They feel free to walk elsewhere with the Lord Jesus Christ and to work with other people to build up the Kingdom of God.
The awful abuse reports have been ongoing now for many decades. It is clear that various abuses and cover up is systemic and worldwide within the official male institution. It is ongoing since the possible root causes have not been diagnosed or admitted by the clerics in control. Lay people and expert professionals have cried out in vain for profound reform. Obvious issues in regard to women, enforced celibacy, sexuality, patriarchy and limited psychosexual development in seminary training are all dismissed by the Roman Curia as modernist agendas or feminist ideologies which have no bearing on the ongoing pandemic of abuse of children, women, priests, homosexuals and power by a small but powerful group of clerics. While some bishops may favour the Synodal approach of Pope Francis, one wonders if many remain resistant to change and comfortable with traditional autocratic episcopal power answerable to nobody.
I hope and pray that the role of women will not be another centuries long Galileo fiasco. Hopefully, the Holy Spirit will lead the Roman Curia and supporting clerics into discernment as regards justice for women. As parents, we want to be able to pass on meaningful and relevant Good News to all. However, we know that it is not possible to evangelise today in the language of sexism, misogyny, homophobia and patriarchal monarchy. Large numbers of Catholics – without any votes – already know what needs to be done and crave that new dawn.
The big question now for all of us practising Catholics and good pastoral priests is how to avoid collusion/complicity/collaboration in the suppression of women as well as other abuses. We are deeply ashamed of our silence, fears and sheepish collaboration in the awful abuses of the last century in Ireland. In the absence of democratic power sharing via a vote for each baptized individual in every parish, minimum involvement and walking away seem like good options.
It is not beyond our pay grade as baptized Catholics to name and banish the evils of patriarchy, misogyny, homophobia and enforced celibacy even though they present to us under the “garments of salvation”. It is not beyond our pay grade to halt the suppression of women and help to bring about equality and justice for women in the Roman Catholic Church. We hope and pray for a healthy, balanced and wholesome Catholic Church working closely with all Christian Churches and other religions.
Joe Mulvaney
Dundrum, Dublin 16
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D12H6F6