Pope Francis has reiterated his desire to see a Church that is more inclusive where women’s role in decision-making is promoted and encouraged. “The feminine genius is needed whenever we make important decisions,” Francis said to the editors of Jesuit journals. He affirms Jesus’ inclusive ministry and probably special apostolic option; from the Gospels, the first witnesses to the resurrection were women. Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the others with them first announced the resurrection of Jesus to his apostles (Luke 24:1-10). Saint Paul had many women who supported his apostolic ministry. For Francis, social and ecclesial responsibilities for women must be enhanced in a way that is in harmony with family life. There still remains a challenge of how to implement Francis’ desire to see an increased representation of women in the Church’s ministries.
Christian women have had tremendous impact on our belonging to Christ. Almost all those who believe in Christ have been, in one way or another, influenced by their mothers or grandmothers who passed on the Christian faith to them. I have personally learned to respect women largely because of the deep reverence I had for my mother (peace to her soul).
In areas of development, one can contend that if a government improves the lives of women, it indirectly improves the quality of life for everyone. Thus an African adage goes, “If you educate a girl, you educate a nation.” Education of women reduces child mortality and improves maternal health. Educational needs and poverty can be improved drastically if women are empowered to participate in decision-making. The challenge for global actors is therefore to increase female power of agency without which there is little female economic contribution.
In Rwanda, a country with an impressive 64 percent of women parliamentarians, the highest proportion in the world, gender rights are enshrined in the country’s constitution and women have the right to inherit land, share the assets of a marriage, and obtain credit. Rising from the ashes of the 1994 genocide that left close to 500,000 women raped, Rwanda has realized that there is no way we can ignore a part of the country if we want it to develop. Rwanda echoes Pope Francis’ words: “How can we possibly make any decision without consulting half of the human race.” Indeed, Rwandan women have been at the forefront of reconciliation efforts through gacaca, traditional courts that sought to judge genocide cases. Women have formed cooperatives to support one another, particularly the most vulnerable through AVEGA (Association of Widows Due to the Genocide) and Imbuto Foundation (an association that promotes girls’ education). Rwandan women’s associations have opened some microfinance projects to support some women to develop their talents.
If there is something that Catholic social thought must bring to global future developers, it is the expansion of a culture of mutual respect and appreciation between men and women. This culture must advocate for the banishment of archaic patriarchal laws that are still enshrined in some societies, such as those that gloss over domestic violence, sexual harassment, female genital mutilation, and those that prevent women from inheriting land. Catholic social thought must promote women’s advocacy programs to persuade and if necessary to force governments to purge discriminatory laws. This is why Malala Yousafzai, the Pakistani teenager who was awarded the 2014 Nobel Peace Prize, remains an inspiration for women and particularly young girls to stand up for their rights and realize their potential and celebrate their human capital to the world.
