Call for Votes for Catholic Women at the Amazon Synod

As the upcoming Synod on the Amazonian region begins in October, 185 men are expected to vote on the final document, and 0 women are expected to vote. 1 non-ordained, religious brother is allowed to vote. 0 non-ordained, religious sisters are allowed to vote. Women who have the same ecclesial status as non-ordained men are excluded again. 

We’ve seen this before. 

Despite our monumental efforts last year, and despite the bishops themselves calling the inclusion of women in decision-making structures a “duty of justice,” women were denied a vote last year, and it’s happening again now.

You can take action today by contacting the synod office and the secretary general of the Synod, Cardinal Lorenzo Baldisseri, to demand the synod’s agenda is amended so that women’s full voting rights is the first topic of discussion when it opens for business on October 7th. Copy and paste the text of the letter below into an email to synodus@synod.va, or print it and send it to the Synod office.

Mailing address:
Segreteria Generale del Sinodo dei Vescovi
Via della Conciliazione 3400120
Città del Vaticano 

Tel. (+39) 06 698 84821 / 84324
Fax (+39) 06 698 83392
Email:synodus@synod.va
Twitter:@synod_va

Other ways to take action:

• Take a photo with our iconic black and white image (created for WOC by Sarah Holst) and share it on social media with the hashtag #VotesforCatholicWomen! (And send it to us, too!)
  
• Tweet your support for #VotesforCatholicWomen:

Women deserve an equal voice everywhere. Including the Catholic Church. #VotesforCatholicWomen #sinodoamazonico @synod_va Click to Tweet!

Asked about women religious voting at Synods: @CardinalBCupich said: “I think that there’s no reason why we shouldn’t do that. I’d be all for that.” http://bit.ly/2mpdn1E #VotesForCatholicWomen #sinodoamazonico @synod_va Click to Tweet!

Last year’s final synod document called including women in decision-making in the Church “a duty of justice.” Let women religious vote at the Amazon Synod. #VotesforCatholicWomen #sinodoamazonico @synod_va Click to Tweet!

Sr. Carmen Sammut about sisters at synods: “we do hope that one day (…) we can be equal members with the men religious … who have voting rights,” #VotesforCatholicWomen #synodoamazonico @UISGRoma @synod_va Click to Tweet!

Sr. Sally Hodgdon @UISGRoma: Women religious will continue to work for women and their roles in the decision-making of the Catholic Church. #VotesForCatholicWomen #sinodoamazonico @synod_va Click to Tweet!

“It took me several years to become aware of it, but it seems clear to me that we can no longer call synods of bishops without also inviting lay people, both men and women. This is urgent.” – Cardinal Marx #VotesforCatholicWomen #sinodoamazonico @synod_va Click to Tweet!

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Dear Cardinal Baldisseri, 

In St. John Paul II’s Letter to Women (1995), he made clear the “urgent need to achieve real equality in every area…” He also stated, “This is a matter of justice but also of necessity. Women will increasingly play a part in the solution of the serious problems of the future…” 

We believe this is especially true of Synods. Women are part of the solution to the serious problems facing the Church — particularly in the Amazon, where women take on ministerial duties in the face of a severe priest shortage, and also lead the fight for ecological justice in the face of climate change. 

The release of the names of the voting members of the upcoming synod on the Amazon shows that, yet again, no women have been allowed a vote at the Synod. This year, beyond the ordained men given a vote, one non-ordained male religious is being given a vote. Despite being part of the pre-synodal council, two non-ordained female religious are not being given the same opportunity to vote. 

We call upon the Synod to amend its agenda so that voting rights for the women involved is the first topic for discussion when the synod opens on 7 October. With no ontological or doctrinal barrier, both male and female religious should vote have the opportunity to participate as voting members.

Many voices called for allowing a vote for religious women at last year’s synod, including one of the male religious superiors given the right to vote; Cardinals Joseph Tobin of Newark and Blaise Cupich of Chicago; and the UISG, which rightfully pointed it out that it is equal in standing to the male religious superiors in every other way. 

Last year’s final Synod document called the inclusion of women in decision-making a “duty of justice.” We ask that you fulfill that duty by making voting rights for women a priority on the first day of the Amazonian Synod. Justice, and the deep needs of the Church, calls for no less.

Yours in Christ,