First Monday: The Role of Women in the Church

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Mrs. Leckey is a senior fellow at the Woodstock Theological Center of Georgetown University. She's the former executive director of the Secretariat for Family, Laity, Women and Youth of the National Conference of Catholic Bishops; and an international lecturer.

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Many in the audience stayed after the presentation to discuss women and the church--among other topics--at greater length.

Photos by Mark D. Alves

Crossing the Bridge

Mrs. Leckey's talk focused on a chapter from her book in progress. "Crossing the Bridge" serves as both a chapter title and the image she asked the audience to picture as she discussed the evolving role of women in the Catholic Church. Her talk centered on the last 25 years, although she went beyond that timeframe occasionally to provide an historical perspective. She highlighted the examples of several leaders to show how one's view depends upon where one is standing on that bridge.

To provide perspective, Mrs. Leckey mentioned a variety of facts. Today women are governors, senators, symphony conductors and judges--in contrast to 25 years ago. Today 85% of parishes have female administrators. Women are superintendents of schools, serve in various Catholic executive positions, are earning PhDs in theology, and are teaching--including at seminaries. They will influence priests, bishops and others.

As we cross the bridge, it's important to remember that the Church operates within human history and is impacted by it. Mrs. Lecky asked the audience to think back to 1975. The women's movement, Roe v Wade, and the ERA (equal rights amendment) were in the news. As a result, the bishops agreed to study the role of women. By 1978, there was a unanimous Women's Committee recomendation to back the ERA, but in such a way of course to avoid supporting abortion. While the bishops didn't pass the measure, the example illustrates some of the back and forth that society and the Church engage in. In the same way, the bishops' pastoral letter on women was nine years in the making with each of the four drafts filled with tension. The first two drafts didn't address the ordination of women, but the last two came out strongly against it. The divisiveness of this issue caused its defeat, led by what's considered the liberal wing of the bishops, such as the late Bishop Frank Murphy.

John Paul II: I'm a Feminist

In 1995, the Year of the Woman, every papal proclamation focused on women, including that the sexes were "equal and complementary." The Holy Father acknowledged that many parts of women's history has been lost. And while some in the audience disagreed, Pope John Paul II repeatedly has referred to himself as a feminist.

Ordained women from other faiths tend to stop studying further because of other demands on their time. This means that it is primarily Catholic women who are conducting the latest leading-edge research in theology as they move forward across that bridge. Canon Law is expansive in what it allows, according to Mrs. Leckey, but it's the culture and society that tends to drive or prevent change. Church documents often contain the teaching that many are looking for, but not the implementation.

What Can We Expect Next?

The history of women in the church is filled with ebbs and flows. At the same time that female altar servers were acknowledged by the bishops, they backed away from inclusive language. What will happen next? That's unknown, but change of any kind is possible only with compelling information and honesty.

Mrs. Leckey concluded her presentation by underscoring the need for the audience to become educated on these issues, to speak the truth with love, and to do so as adults. Wherever you may stand on the bridge over this topic, that should be advice everyone can take to heart.