MANILA (UCAN): The Catholic Women’s League and the Catholic Nurses and Physicians Guild in the Philippines welcomed remarks by Pope Francis in which he called on nuns to fight against unfair treatment by clergymen.
“I invite them to fight when, in some cases, they are treated unfairly, even within the Church, when they serve so much that they are reduced to servitude—at times, by men of the Church,” the pope said on February 1 in a video message to religious sisters and consecrated women in Rome to thank them for their work.
He said God’s presence was made known through the works of women in the Catholic Church.
“Do not be discouraged. May you keep making God’s goodness known through the apostolic works you do. But above all through your witness of consecration,” the pope added.
The two organisations said on February 2 that the pope’s message should be for all women serving in the Catholic Church.
“We believe that every woman, not just religious sisters, must fight oppression within the Catholic Church, especially if our preconceived role was to be servants of priests,” guild secretary, Marites Gile, said.
Gile said her group was inspired by Pope Francis’ words to fight oppressive conditions inside the Church that were sometimes perpetuated by clergymen.
“We are touched by Pope Francis’ words. For years, our [women’s] role in the Catholic Church was preconceived and defined by the Catholic hierarchy that is by nature patriarchal. But our role as women is far from taking care of priests in the parish. We can also participate in the decision-making processes of our own parish,” she said.
Gile was referring to roles such as sweeping church floors, cooking for priests and paying bills in the parish.
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The Catholic Women’s League likewise thanked the pope for “reshaping” the role of women in the Church.
“For many years, we have felt that our role was to serve according to what and how the parish priest wanted us to serve. Service is important because our league’s motto is ‘charity, work and loyalty.’ But dignified and empowered service is different,” said one member who wished to remain anonymous.
“Let us pray for religious sisters and consecrated women, thanking them for their mission and their courage. May they continue to find new responses to the challenges of our times,” the pope said in his video message.
