It is Time for Women to Participate in Decision Making in the Church [Including Ordination]
/It is time for women to participate in decision-making in the Church [including ordination]
by Lucie Sarr | La Croix Africa
24 February 2023
Question of faith: What do African women think of their place in the Church? As a prelude to International Women's Rights Day celebrated on March 8, La Croix Africa gives the floor to 12 African Catholic women who express themselves freely about their place in the Church.
Among them, Marie Angélique Sagna Savané, sociologist and Senegalese politician, former director for Africa of the United Nations Population Fund, feminist activist and committed Catholic.
La Croix Africa: Can you be a feminist and a Catholic?
Marie Angélique Savané: I am often asked this question. I don't think feminism and the Catholic faith are irreconcilable. It all depends on the angle from which you approach things. For me, everything was easier because during the period of my pure and hard feminist commitment, I was far from the Church. As a result, I did not have to suffer the wrath of the ecclesial authorities with regard to my positions.
When I returned to the Church (what I call my conversion), my feminism and my political involvement rather helped me to deepen my spirituality. For me, the Church is an institution but I give more importance to the interpersonal relationship with God, that is to say spirituality. I start from the principle that the teaching of Jesus is addressed to all, women and men.
We must not lose sight of the fact that Jesus lived in a patriarchal era and that he carried out very strong acts towards women and through women. Several miracles were performed by Jesus through the faith of a woman. We also too often neglect the tutelary figure of Mary Magdalene and yet it is she whom Jesus chose to announce his resurrection.
We can also go back to the book of Genesis, in the story of Creation, where it is said that "God created them male and female". But patriarchy, which is an ideological system of power, has rewritten the history of male and female relations to suit itself to justify the domination and subordination of women mainly through religions.
Saint Paul, in the Epistle to the Galatians, will return to the equality of man and woman before God. So for me in principle there is no justification for the inferiority of women in the divine plan. And Jesus Christ imposed for his time women in his entourage, asked to respect them. It is religious practices in institutions that have relegated or even erased the presence of women to make them auxiliaries. Today we must reflect on the place of women in the Church.
La Croix: When you observe the place and role of women in the Church in Africa, what thoughts do you have? Is there a balance between their commitment and their place in the decision-making process?
Marie Angélique Savané: Many priests think that I am too critical or too harsh because I dare to say what I think having always held positions of responsibility. The fact that a woman speaks with confidence sometimes disturbs in the parishes.
Saint Paul, in the Epistle to the Galatians, will return to the equality of man and woman before God. So for me in principle there is no justification for the inferiority of women in the divine plan. And Jesus Christ imposed for his time women in his entourage, asked to respect them. It is religious practices in institutions that have relegated or even erased the presence of women to make them auxiliaries. Today we must reflect on the place of women in the Church.
La Croix: When you observe the place and role of women in the Church in Africa, what thoughts do you have? Is there a balance between their commitment and their place in the decision-making process?
Marie Angélique Savané: Many priests think that I am too critical or too harsh because I dare to say what I think having always held positions of responsibility. The fact that a woman speaks with confidence sometimes disturbs in the parishes.
I am impressed by the quality of the nuns we have but unfortunately they are not valued enough in the Church. However, in Senegal, the best schools are run by nuns. The health structures they manage have an excellent reputation. But we do not feel their influence in the decision-making spheres of the Church. Pope Francis is innovating in this direction.
In our parishes, when it comes to organizing celebrations and buying or selling fabrics, we always turn to women. But in the parish councils, how many women are there? And those who are there, are they chosen for their competence or just because they are in Catholic movements? It is time that women who are aware of the realities of today's society can intervene in parishes and contribute to decision-making. Parishes can also develop income-generating activities for women and young people.
“Are you for the ordination of women? Yes, of course I am for the priestly ordination of women!”
La Croix: Are you for the priestly ordination of women?
Marie Angélique Savané: Yes, of course I am for the priestly ordination of women! I am also for the marriage of priests! I also disagree with the institutional Church regarding the total rejection by African priests – headed by Cardinal Robert Sarah – of the Maputo Protocol (1). The main reason is that this text calls for the legalization of medical abortion in cases of rape, incest or in cases where the life of the woman is in danger. I find their attitude unfair and sexist because they are men who speak notwithstanding the physical and mental health of the female victims!
Regarding contraception and family planning, I do not agree with the Church's view because natural birth control methods are not reliable. They are too risky for women. If we want to avoid or reduce the cases of abortion, the best way is to promote modern means of contraception.
(1) The Maputo Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights was adopted in July 2003 by the African Union. The signatory states are committed to guaranteeing the rights of women to participate in the political process, to benefit from social and political equality with men, but also from improved autonomy in their health decisions. It also puts an end to female genital mutilation.
https://africa.la-croix.com/il-est-temps-que-les-femmes-participent-a-la-prise-de-decision-dans-leglise
