By Sujata Jena SS.CC.

Manila, January 20, 2019: A Benedictine nun, Maria Teresa Forcades, stressed on the need to promote “Gender equality” in society and Church.

Forcades, liberal theologian and social activist of Catalania, Spain, left the audience spell bound as she started to speak on the topic, “Christian Mission from a Trinitarian Perspective: Egotism, Mystic and Social Transformation- A very different day – an unexpected topic for Religious Life” during the 22nd ‘Religious Life Week’ held from 18-20 January at Institute for Consecrated life in Asia (ICLA).

The theme for this year was “Discernment for Mission in Religious Life”.

Every year about 500 Religious priests and nuns flock to ICLA in Manila to listen to the leading theologians of the Church about different topics on religious life in the annual conference.

She also spoke on “Critical dialogue with theological positions,” “radical exposition of original biblical words.”

Forcades’ starting point was “The reality of sexual diversity in our time and the suffering that transgender people go through.”

She went on asking questions: listening to the voice and perspective of transgender: “What do we have to say in mission, in relation to the sexual minority- of the transgender? Do we have a Theological Anthropology that can look at this minority’s concern or discriminate, even in their own churches? What about the ordination of women to priesthood? And the church’s tendency to present women’s dignity in a lower status than men-in writings, structures and practice? What are these in relation to the Trinity?”

The woman theologian continued saying, “All of us are called to participate in God’s life, in the dynamic of Trinitarian life. Even the minority matters to God. In mission, we need to be in constant discernment, always referring to the Gospel, and taking responsibility for it. And listen in a mystical dialogue with God.”

Mission is a reflection of the procession of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, and their relationships. In the Gospels, mission flows from the deep unity of Jesus and the Father, from their mutual love and total self-giving, now extended to church members, the nun said.

Therefore, Trinity is love (1 John 4:8). In the dynamics of the Trinitarian relationships the Holy Spirit is sharing love (mutuality), the Father is giving and receiving pure love and the son is receiving everything that the Father is, Forcades expounded.

Therefore “receiving position” is not less than “giving position”. “Giving and receiving are on the same level, of the same substance, and are both valid expressions of the same love. Consequently, we can orient our love to the Trinity’s way: not by how much we give or receive,” she said.

The speaker ended with tips for all: look into the issue that is presented before you more seriously, explore God’s word and its meaning. Take responsibility to act upon it and learn to transcend above all odds even taking risk.

The other speakers of the day were a theologian and United Nation NGO representative the Society of the Sacred Heart nun, Shella Smith, who spoke on “Mutuality: Going to the Heart of Discernment for Mission.”

A Franciscan priest Robert Manasala OFM spoke on “Discerning the presence and Workings of the Spirit in Asia Today”.

But the Benedictine nun stole the show with her emphatic sharing of her convinced faith.

Forcades, a physician, focuses on public health. She gained her international reputation for her criticism on the pharmaceutical industry and vocal on Catalan independence.

In 2013 she co-authored the Manifesto for the convening of the constituent process in the Catalonia.

Her political activism resulted in labelling her as “one of the most outspoken leaders of Southern Europe.”

It was engaging learning being with her in the conference. Her progressive and liberal thoughts were well received by the attendance.