Sr Chris Burke IBVM | Australia

“My wish for women in the Catholic Church is that we be accepted as a gifted, often creative contributors, included in decision making, assisting to make synodality a reality, sometimes needing forgiveness, sometimes giving forgiveness- equal participants in a community of equal disciples! I'm no longer staying silent about the hemorrhage from the Church of so many basically good and compassionate people, many of whom are committed to justice and actually find Jesus an inspiration. Many have found that our failure to allow ourselves to be challenged to new ways by the Holy Spirit destroys hope, and for their own health they no longer count themselves among us. I have taught and worked to name this reality for years, but the call to speak out continues to impel me to work with theological and pastoral students, male and female, to help them see through a new lens, which reveals the sinfulness of current structures and the possibility of life-giving alternatives which reflect more accurately the early church. I'm sharing this because we are the church, and it is important that we as members take up the challenge to deepen our personal journey with Jesus, as we seek to bring our church to better reflect the ‘kin-dom’ his life proclaimed. We can no longer leave it to chance or to ‘father’. The responsibility is on us to witness to the imperative of becoming a community of equal disciples.”