The Spanish Church proposes that women assume more positions of responsibility at the pastoral and ministerial level, while at the same time it has decided to review the procedure for electing bishops (with the participation of the entire People of God).
This is reflected in the working document Towards October 2024 published this Saturday, May 4, by the Spanish Episcopal Conference (CEE), on the occasion of the Synodal Assembly celebration with which the last part of the process on which we have worked these years culminates. facing the General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops on Synodality, convened by Pope Francis and whose final phase will take place in October 2024.
According to the CEE, this document includes the contributions received from 54 dioceses and 20 very diverse ecclesial realities (in size and nature), while some dioceses have reported having worked on the reflection on the Synthesis Report A Synodal Church in Mission – the document emerged from the previous phase held in the Vatican in 2023 – but, due to different circumstances, they have not been able to send their contribution and will probably do so in the coming days. Furthermore, it points out that 21 “good practices” or experiences of synodality arrived at the secretariat of the EEC Synod.
In this sense, it recognizes that participation in this phase of the process has decreased in number of groups and participants and that they should assess the reasons: if the short time periods to receive contributions influence it, if there are difficulties in harmonizing it with other programming already in place or whether the questions were clearly formulated.
After the first universal phase of the Synod convened in 2019 by Pope Francis, the Holy See invited all dioceses to delve into some aspects of the Synthesis Report based on a guiding question: “How to be a synodal Church in mission?” . “The contributions show the enormous plurality of our Church and, therefore, it is very difficult to collect all the rich nuances in a brief summary document,” the working document also states.
In any case, it points out that there is a general appreciation of the contribution that women make in the transmission of the faith, in the life of the communities and, at the same time, the demand that they be listened to more, that they can contribute much more by having takes into account a very plural feminine reality.
“Their active presence in all areas of the life of the Church is considered a priority, in the bodies of participation, formation and decision-making, as well as assuming tasks of responsibility at the pastoral and ministerial level: overwhelming majority of presence of women in the life of the Church, which does not translate into visibility,” he adds. Furthermore, she proposes reviewing the issue of the permanent diaconate, as a service to the poorest and, at this point, she also proposes to reflect on the possible access of women to the diaconate.
Regarding participation initiatives, in addition to the review of the election of bishops, it also proposes greater presence and participation of the laity and especially women in the life of the Church and in its decisions; and implementation of the CEE guidelines on the ministries of reader, acolyte and catechist.
At another point, the document includes the need to review the exercise of authority, from service, co-responsibility, humility, simplicity, closeness, charity, more focused on the poor and the community. “Reflect on its meaning within the synodal context and how the authority/obedience binomial should be understood today so as not to reach extremes that cause situations of abuse of power or conscience,” he adds.
It is also requested that pastoral and economic councils (both diocesan, archpriestly and parish councils) be mandatory and not just advisable, for which the Code of Canon Law would have to be reformed; and it is considered necessary that the existing ones be renewed and reviewed.
In addition, it is requested to promote the renewal and expansion of its members, and ensure that the entire people of God is represented in them, “overcoming clericalism” and encouraging the laity – men and women – and consecrated life to be present and assume responsibilities. Along with this, they ask to ensure that these bodies are deliberative and decision-making on some issues, and not just advisory.
Likewise, it proposes that the people of God be consulted for the appointment of certain diocesan responsibilities and services, as well as for changes in their pastors.
On the other hand, they ask to grow in openness and acceptance of different realities: young people; secularized priests; poor and vulnerable people; marriages and families, in whatever situation they find themselves in; of different sexual orientations; immigrants and refugees; people far from the Church, older people; People with disabilities. Likewise, they propose promoting and offering specific training to carry out these services (such as listening workshops or accompaniment schools) and giving ministry authority to this service.
At the same time, he emphasizes that the Church must denounce the causes of poverty, be “brave” to raise its voice in situations of injustice where the dignity of the person is not respected.
“There is a shared conviction that we must discover new poverty, change our outlook and our attitudes and act in a coordinated manner. Without wanting to exhaust the faces of poverty that the reports identify, we do mention some of them: immigrants, victims of any type of exploitation or abuse, those who do not enjoy a decent job, the elderly and sick alone, all those who are not welcomed or listened to, the children who are not born, the people who do not find meaning in their lives,” he adds.
Among other aspects, the document also includes the need to increase internal and external communication as well as to bring evangelization to the digital world.
In June 2022, the Spanish Church presented a final synthesis in which it collected the proposals of the different Spanish dioceses and, therefore, of Spanish Catholics, for the future of the Church, and among them, it was suggested to open a dialogue on the optional celibacy, married ordination and female priesthood. This document has already been sent to Rome.
In February 2023, the Spanish Church published another working document in which it once again mentioned the role of women in the Church, but without mentioning the female priesthood and asked to move towards “total” transparency in relation to sexual abuse. . It also included the need for greater openness and acceptance towards people with diverse family, emotional or sexual situations.
