Bishop David Walker of the Sydney Diocese of Broken Bay has recently announced that he is creating a new full-time ministry for celibate, ecclesial women.
He told the ABC’s Religion Report yesterday that celibacy would be essential to this ministry but unlike religious life, this group of people would not take a vow of poverty.
He says celibacy will help people in this ministry "to be at the service of others in a radical way".
The Bishop also said that while the idea applies equally to men, the focus on a women ministry is to help "draw them to a greater degree into the life and leadership of the church."
He said that he is unsure whether or not this ministry will "appease" women who want a "priestly style of life", but made it clear that the move is not meant to be a "back door" approach to women’s ordination.
Bishop Walker says that he is not aware of similar models elsewhere and that he is responding to the demands of the local Church.
"What I’m trying to do is to focus on the diocese, the local church itself," he said.
"Religious, for example, belongs to their religious congregation and they’re quite independent of the diocese in their way of life. What I’m trying to do is to establish a group of ministers who will serve within the local church, and be part of the ministry of the Bishop."
He said that as committed people, these ministers will be able to "fit into many of the works of our diocese, any of our agencies, thinking of schools or of Centacare, working in our parish in a number of pastoral areas."
Sounds like a diocesan religious order. There have been religious orders started by a diocese like the Sisters of Life, but this sounds different in that they remain under diocesan control. It will be interesting to hear the actual details about this. What the heck is an ecclesial women? Is is a modern term for a church lady, just full time? Could be an interesting idea depending on how it is implemented.
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The idea needs more exploration. Notwithstanding that there are many women who work in the diocese both religious, married, single and the like can the bishop be looking for a cheap form of labour?
There are two consecrated celibate women in Denver that I know of. I have no idea what “ecclesial women” means.
Perhaps His Lordship is unfamiliar with the ancient vocation of the consecrated virgin, now defined in Canon 603. There are thousands of such women consecrated by their bishops throughout the world.
If on the other hand, it is his intent that these women become not part of “consecrated life” as defined by the canons, but rather remain part of that state of life known as “the laity”, then a careful re-reading of Vatican II’s Decree on the Apostolate of the Laity (Apostolicam actuositatem) might be in order. The focus of the laity’s apostolate is external to the Church, not internal: it’s the precise mission of the laity to evangelize the world by being in it, not to hold offices within the Church ministering to the flock itself.
IMHO.
The whole thing sounds a bit “off” to me, especially the language. I, too, have no idea what “ecclesial women” are, and the reference to them as “ministers” working in “pastoral areas” sounds a little too much like that “back door approach to women’s ordination” that the Bishop claims it isn’t. Otherwise, why not just use the already established vocation of consecrated virgin (unless, of course, the women will include widows), or even start a secular institute, which is also a recognized form of dedicated (if not consecrated) life?
“Ecclesial women” . . . Church Ladies!
“Well! Isn’t that special?”
Sounds fishy to me. And the good bishop ought to know that he can found any religious order for the service of HIS diocese, under HIS authority. Very fishy.
Sounds like plain old (ancient really) consecrated virgins, like St. Catherine of Siena, who was not a nun or St. Gemma.
“Ecclesial women” doesn’t mean anything at all.
St. Catherine of Sienna was actually a Dominican tertiery, I believe.
Perhaps his Excellency was misquoted, and actually said, “Ecclesiastes Women”? You know, “What hath a man more of all his labour, that he taketh under the sun, while I’m inside picking up all the towels he leaveth on the bathroom floor?”
It does sound to me, though, like it is something new — consecrated virgins are not consecrated into serving the local Church under the bishop — which, being something new, will naturally be attacked.
Yes, the Bishop is a shocker… has a record…
Hey, I live in the Diocese mentioned here, and 3 years on we STILL have no idea what the heck an “Ecclesial Woman” is… We see them around, but beyond causing an abundance of liturgical abuses, I am at a loss as to just what their jobs are.
As for His Lordship’s desire to attract “young women”, who aren’t interested in religious life any more, I am not aware of even one of the women who have taken up this invitation of ‘ministry’ being under the age of 45 – the one in my Church often talks of being in High School in the 50’s…
And yet here I am, about to marry a young lady who, along with at least 6 of her close friends, was discerning orthodox religious orders! Some people say the Institutional Church is out of touch, but I’m convinced that it’s the remnants of the progressives from the previous decades (somehow commanding the ear of the media) that are out of touch with the youth today, while the truth and beauty of our ancient Tradition has been found to be more relevant than ever today!
“Ecclesial women” just seems a cheap way that the old lady in my Parish can now organise things and swing the thurible…
Pax Domini!