Vatican City, Apr 11, 2018 / 11:48 am
The Pontifical Commission for Latin America has proposed that Pope Francis convoke a synod on the role of women in the life and mission of the Church.
The proposal is contained in a 15-paragraph statement approved by the Pontifical Commission for Latin America's plenary assembly one month ago, and published April 11 in L'Osservatore Romano.
The Pontifical Commission for Latin America stressed that the Catholic Church "must be freed from prejudices, stereotypes and discriminations" women are subjected to, and for this reason a "pastoral conversion" is needed in order to ask women's forgiveness "for all the situations" in which Christian communities "have been and are accomplices of attempt against women's dignity."
The document also challenged local dioceses to be courageous, and to "denounce all the forms of discrimination and oppression, of violence and exploitation" to which women have been subjected.
The commission warned against "cultural and ideological colonization" spread from "well organized lobbies" sometimes "instrumentalizing feminist claims" in order to argue against the truth of marriage and family.
The Pontifical Commission of Latin America asked the Church to "multiply and widen the places and the opportunities of women's cooperation to pastoral structure" in parishes, dioceses, episcopal conferences and in Roman Curia.
It is – according to the document – "a needed and urgent opening," that requires "an investment in the Christian, theological and professional formation" of women – whether they are religious sisters or members of the laity – so that they can "work at the same level with men."
The statement promoted an education tackling "male chauvinist resistance, frequent paternal and familiar absence, and irresponsibility in sexual behaviour."