Anecdotal Dispatches about CNWE’s “Extramural Participation” at the 2024 Synod on Synodality
Dispatch from Rome # 1 – Tuesday October 1
We two (Susan Roll and me) representing CNWE are here in Rome.
And it is obvious our Canadian voice, faith and achievements are needed and valued.
We are acting with American, South African, Polish and British feminists of faith who have come to express themselves.
It’s a full agenda of actions always in a prayer context, and often with a sense of humour.
For example, this morning started with a noisy “Kick the can down the street action”, complete with empty soup cans, in reference to our perception that this Vatican prefers to avoid contentious issues such as ordination of women to priesthood by just referring it to more secret study.
But I have the distinct impression, and it pleases me, that women are moving past the reform agenda which has dominated our efforts for 50 years and enervated us in the process, and now claim our full baptismal equality, minister to each other, and to others and push the institution into the background.
After all, all this listening has to lead to outcomes, to changes, to authority.
It is a time of great transition, quiet and unnoticed at first but the pews are emptying and band aids don’t do the job.
Even here this week, fewer numbers of activists have come.
But don’t think for a minute that their belief in the gospel of Jesus has cooled.
They just figure their time and spiritual energy is better spent bringing good news to the poor than in persuading a moribund institution led by celibate men to change.
Too small. Too late. Too obtuse.
But if this week represents a final hurrah, it sure is fun.
Dispatch from Rome #2 – Thursday October 3.
Good day, CNWE sisters and brothers.
Full days over here.
The eternal city has defeated my efforts at figuring out streets with long names and narrow, miraculous lanes with speedy small cars.
But into the breech has stepped fairy God mothers and fathers with cell phones and the uncanny ability to summon Uber cabs.
Yesterday, a shop owner I appealed to, tore off part of a menu and instructed me to walk along the Tiber to the fourth bridge, the Cavour, and cross it and ascend for 10 blocks, with 3 street name changes and Voila: The 138 Spanish Steps, the landmark for our guesthouse.
That easy.
Because he has a cousin in Toronto!
And because, no doubt, I have white hair.
This morning before the sun was up we trapped a taxi and went down to Via Conciliazione the broad avenue leading up to St Peter’s Basilica, to help 4 young staffers from Catholics for Choice USA lug and then unroll a moving piece of fabric art with 50 quotes from Catholic women who have had abortions.
Tender, resolute and full of faith.
A van of carabinieri watched from a distance.
We were there about an hour and then CFC invited us to breakfast.
One of them took what was to me a Pulitzer- quality photo of the basilica with the words “A Catholic for Choice Was Here” superimposed.
Such adventures were followed by a Zoom conversation with 6 conscientious Catholics from every continent, expressing what can only be described as disappointment in the documents and the remarks of leaders since part one of the Synod a year ago.
Kate M described her mood as “ongoing holy grumbling”. And Kate is not a grumbler.
A provocative day made bearable by the company of fellow travelers.
And your interest and support.
Dispatch from Rome # 3 – Saturday October 5, 2024
Saturday here.
You Canadian co-conspirators will be exhausted after this week of messages from us.
And you don’t even have the compensations of real people,of meeting heroines, of prayer vigils when sorely needed and of the Roman environment.
With 3 loving Brits, we’ve formed a little community who linger over breakfast and help each other solve problems, such as a wet cellphone which has given up.
And who are we without our cell phone?
Yesterday, Friday Megan Williams phoned and rode her bike over.
Born in Toronto where her mother still lives, she has been in Rome 25 years.
Has pitched our story to editors at CBC but says interest is tepid with all the other burning stories in the world.
We three sat outside and she put very well informed questions.
She seemed to stress my age (87) rather than my beauty,but never mind.Susan was animatedly impressive with scholarly background of the issues.
Megan put on her bike helmet and was gone.
We went to an International Women’s centre, like Church House at the UN in New York and Kate M of WOC briefed us …maybe 50 people. on the walk to the Vatican, holding up a map of the route assigned by the police…so far away we could sense the bad faith in it.
She outlined, like a good moral theologian ,the choices of conscience facing us as we walked.
I chose the line of least resistance…walking to the overpass, waving fans that WOC had brought, and, Sophia be praised, that was right for both of us.
A nice man introduced himself there as correspondent from Der Spiegel, the national German daily, and he was interested in my long history of resistance, since 1968 (Humanae Vitae).
But he, Frank Lonig, was clearly thrilled when Susan spoke with him in German!
Back to the Women’s Centre for a sing-song, and to hear that no confrontations had happened to the courageous walkers.
In fact, general approval from people in the street.
The issue is going mainstream, which must disturb hardliners. It’s been for them a dispiriting week with either being ignored or being challenged
Mary Hunt writes that new forms of prayer and belief are rising.
Prayer vigil at 7 pm in Vatican Square. Intentions, personal and political, uttered.
But nobody except me knew the words and melody of “Go Now in Peace”, a standard at my Friday morning prayer group (in person!).
Thank you for support and messages.
Love from Susan and Rosemary, Rome.
P.S. We have lunch with voting delegate Prof Catherine Clifford on Monday.
Hope to report a redacted version of that for you.
Dispatch from Rome #4 – Sunday October 6, 2024
Buongiorno, amici,
Sunday morning here
“based on the analysis so far,there is no room for a positive decision on women deacons”.
“A synod is not a Parliament”.