By M L Satyan
Coimbatore, Feb 13, 2025: On February 5, Matters India published my article headlined, “Why do Catholic clergy treat women as servants.” It gave a few examples of the CCBI (Conference of Catholic Bishops of India) plenary assembly held at Bhubaneswar January 28-February 4.
The article has drawn mixed responses – some negative and many positive. One reader said I had looked at the issue through my lens and the article was drawn out of proportion. The reader also mentioned that “the sisters volunteered to take up the sacristy works with joy and all the performers in the event did with personal freedom.”
I have had an experience of working with many religious congregations in different part of India and have contacts with them. Hence, I received responses from many sisters of different congregations.
Tamil has a proverb: “Oru paanai sothuku oru soru padham” meaning “To assert the condition of the potful rice being cooked, it is enough to check just one rice.” Likewise, from among all the responses I have received, I would mention just three responses that will reveal the sentiments and experiences of the sisters. Their anonymity is maintained.
Sister-1: “Thank you for the article. Your article captures the sentiments of many of us sisters in Bhubaneswar, at least those connected with the CCBI event. I have been reflecting along the same lines.
From the start, when planning began in December, they called only sisters for the first time though we are rarely invited to other archdiocesan events. We were given responsibilities for liturgy (vespers, singing, readings, altar preparation, vestments, dance), the bishops’ health, and the cultural program.
Strangely, they also asked us to conduct 24-hour adoration beside the CCBI meeting hall. At the local-level planning meeting, among all the sisters from Bhubaneswar and nearby areas, only two priests were present, an unusual sight, as sisters were outnumbered.
I explained that our community could not take charge of the 24-hour adoration due to our small number and other ministry commitments, though we would pray for them whenever possible. I agreed to handle the choir for one day but politely declined other tasks for practical reasons.
The two priests asked why we were not participating like the other sisters and kept insisting. I explained that most of us work outside and could not be available 24/7 during the week-long meeting. I asked why priests could not do adoration or assist bishops in dressing their vestments. A sister provincial whispered to me that they too were unavailable but could not openly refuse when the authorities asked.
My argument with a priest went viral, causing a scandal. For those unfamiliar with the place, the CCBI plenary assembly venue – XIM University – is about 1.5 hours away from most of our communities. On our assigned liturgy day, we had to leave at 4:45 am to reach the venue on time.
To make matters worse, after Mass, a priest in charge of liturgy, who never conducted practice, harshly criticized the sisters for mistakes. He shouted, and another priest joined him, refusing to listen to any explanation. Ironically, the theme was “Synodal Pathways for Mission”.
Sister-2: “Mr. Satyan, I fully agree with what you have written about priests dominating women and women used as servants or slaves in holy mother church. Yes, the Anglican church has taken a good step. The Roman Catholic church needs to do the same. Congratulations and hats off to you.”
Sister-3: “Priests treat us like this because they do not want to share power with women. Since they are not anchored, their fall is inevitable. Like the story of ‘The Rich man and Lazarus,’ even if God tells, the priests will not accept till they are burnt in fire.”
These three sisters have spoken their minds with utmost sincerity. They want to be true to themselves. Let us remember that only when we are true to ourselves, we can be true to others and God.
Can all the nuns do the same? It is a million-dollar question. Here is a response from Sister-1, answering this question. She says, “It has been observed that many sisters do not object to unjust treatment from the clergy and church authorities. They quietly obey and serve. Some are sometimes given positions such as commission secretaries. Of the 16 commissions of the CCBI, hardly 3 women or nuns are appointed as secretaries of commissions. However, if any nun speaks up and openly shares her views, she is rejected and not given an opportunity to hold any position.”
From these responses it is clear that the nuns did not accept the responsibilities during the CCBI meeting with JOY. Probably, they have fulfilled the given tasks out of FEAR. Today the nuns and women in the Catholic Church are “oppressed” in many ways.
The helpless nuns and women “suppress” their resentment. They do not express their dissent due to personal reasons. As a result, many of them become “depressed” and are unable to fulfil their duties and responsibilities meaningfully.
In my previous article I raised this question: “Why do the church authorities view young girls/women as objects of entertainment?” For this one reader commented: “I am sure that none of the bishops were interested in those dances. They sat patiently to see the performance out of respect for the culture.”
It is the board of CCBI that approved the daily schedule of the assembly. If the members were not interested in the dances, they should not have permitted such programs. The conclusion is that they enjoyed the dances.
In the history of the Church, we note that the hierarchy, including the Popes, used their powers in a manner comparable to war lords and playboys than the spiritual leaders that they were supposed to be.
From betrayal, deceit, and corruption to sexuality perversion and the abuse of power, they practiced what made the faithful doubt the Church’s integrity. Even the Indian Catholic Church has witnessed the suspension of bishops involved in corruption and sex scandals.
Is the hierarchy of the Indian Catholic Church ready for a sincere introspection?