A Lenten reflection: No future for the Church without women

By Mauricio López, 26 March 2021
A female parishioner distributes ashes during Ash Wednesday at St Patrick's Cathedral, Parramatta. Image: Mary Brazell/Diocese of Parramatta

 

A recent Lenten reflection based on the readings for 22 March 2021

Readings: Daniel 13: 1-9, 15-17, 19-30, 33-62; John 8:1-11

Too many women, both in the Church and in society, are victims of a structural injustice and exclusion that seems to have no end. In the Church, we have a historical debt, which we cannot overlook, to reaffirm the irreplaceable role of women in the building of the Kingdom. We constantly talk about this, but very little is done to change.

In the geographical and existential periphery of the Amazon—as a territorial experience that the Pope himself wanted to bring to the centre of the Church and society to illuminate its transformation—there would be no ecclesial mission without women. In this territory, women represent 70% of the missionary presence with the people who cry out for justice, for relevant pastoral accompaniment, and for a significant presence with the little ones, the blessed.

In the Gospel, Jesus himself experiences true alterity by finding in the face of the woman accused of adultery the call of God. After affirming her dignity, he denounces the structural injustice by urging that anyone who is free of sin cast the first stone. But, above all, Jesus shows us the way of redemption by embracing her with love, and inviting her to live with fullness and dignity from that moment on.

To continue reading this reflection, click here.

Mauricio López is a member and former world president of Christian Life Community. He is co-founder of the Ecclesial Pan Amazon Network, REPAM, and acting executive secretary of the Ecclesial Conference of the Amazon and director for Pastoral Action at CELAM (Latin American Episcopal Council).

With thanks to the Ignatian Solidarity Network, an American social justice network inspired by the spirituality of St. Ignatius of Loyola, where this article originally appeared.

 

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