By Noella de Souza

Mumbai, Nov 7, 2021: “Indians cheer Italian nun at key Vatican post” is the headline of a news report, but surprisingly the leaders of the sisters in India who have commented are precisely the ones who are the slowest in bringing about change in the lives and structure of life for women religious in India.

To me this seems lipspeak. I wonder why? Are they so afraid of the bishops and hierarchy that they want to keep in their good books and not soil their reputation? Would it not be to their advantage that they genuinely and authentically uphold their reputation by confronting those who systemically keep it down?

There are other opinions voiced after this appointment that seem to think that sisters are appointed as they can be easily controlled. Lay women make bold steps thus are not tolerated. Consequently the lot falls on women religious.

There are two completely different issues mentioned above, nonetheless both need to be given serious consideration.

There was a study on women religious recently done that called attention to the problematic issues faced by women religious in their relationship with clergy in different parts of India and yes, our leaders tend to connive with the clergy, but they need to ask themselves why they do it. For me, it’s betraying the faith their communities put in them. Once more I reiterate, what are the habituated and learned patterns by which they uphold their personal or congregational name? This needs to be seriously discerned by those who indulge in this behavior.

Secondly, the issue that sisters are appointed so they can be easily controlled….. Yes on this second point too. Unfortunately, the formation given in most religious congregations of women teach and practise, out of respect to listen to the clergymen who interact with them. This, to my knowledge, is misused by many, when you see the amount of power that is bandied around regarding the refusal of sacraments in convents, as a way of obliging sisters to conform to clergy demands.

Power is used from the pulpit or work place to humiliate, criticize and belittle them. Power refuses to acknowledge the professional competence of sisters, where oftentimes sisters are expected to give free service in the pastor sector. It is high time brothers that you left your male superiority and need for patriarchal control and prestige behind and thought of mutual respect and communion. Until now, there have been signs of change, but only on paper. NOW it is time for you, hierarchy included, to undertake a serious discernment regarding their relationship with the sisters they work with.

We sisters are also doing the same, and one thing is clear, we will not tolerate being enslaved by Church authorities and clergy anymore. There is less fear and more calls for ‘End of Patriarchy.’ The rumbling of the groundswell is increasing and slowly the awareness of many women religious is changing direction too. We are rising – beyond our exploitation, from our exclusion, against all odds, here and there, everywhere in the country, women religious are rising!

Can we answer our common call to work for a Mission where as equal partners we can sit at the same table, and on stretching our personal boundaries, collaborate in expanding the reign of God through structural and systemic change?

I sincerely hope we can take on this magnanimous in this task which lies ahead of us together.