Young feminist gathering suggests hope for
reform
By HEIDI SCHLUMPF
Special to the National Catholic
Reporter Chicago
Recalling a gathering in the mid-1970s, a ground-breaking moment
in the history of the feminist movement in the U.S. Catholic Church, Sr. Donna
Quinn became teary-eyed, then asked, How many of you were
there?
One woman broke the silence with her answer: I was only
5.
Some in the group, of course, hadnt even been born.
That was perhaps the most telling moment of the Young Feminist
Networks leadership conference, and it came on the opening night. Quinn,
a Sinsinawa Dominican, is one of the founders of the Womens Ordination
Conference, the umbrella organization for the new Young Feminist Network. The
younger group grew out of a caucus for young women at the Conferences
1995 gathering in Arlington, Va.
The Young Feminist Networks first national event, the Sept.
18-20 leadership conference here, gathered two dozen women -- and one man --
for training.
If these Gen X Catholics are any indication of the
future of the church, reform-minded Catholics have reason to be hopeful. From
the 20-year-old college student with the nose ring to the thirtysomething punk
rocker to the young married woman from Chicago, they are bright, prayerful and
deep. Nearly half had already dedicated a year or more of their short lives to
full-time volunteer service programs.
They are educated about the faith, but want to learn even more.
And they are deeply committed to the Catholic church. But they are also
frustrated with the same institution that they love, and are desperately
seeking a community of like-minded peers who share their vision of faith and
spirituality.
Thats where Young Feminist Network comes in. The
organization is hoping to offer them something the older church reform
movements cant. We need something different because our experience
is different, explained Kerry Danner-McDonald, the Networks
26-year-old, part-time coordinator in Washington. I dont think we
are connected with the institutional church in the way our parents
are.
But these enthusiastic young Catholics are serious about living
the faith. One participant described herself as a praxis-ing
Catholic.
I put into action the things I believe, said Theresa
Trujillo, a 28-year-old former director of religious education, who is moving
to Mexico to work for an organization that facilitates dialogue between North
America and Latin America.
Although one participant admitted on the first day that she
wasnt sure she believed women should be ordained, Catholics in their 20s
and 30s come from a generation that accepts womens equality -- on
principle, at least -- as a given.
The first time I had a feminist thought about the church was
when I was told I couldnt be an altar girl, said Kirsten Goa of
Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. It just didnt seem fair.
The women attending the conference here said they often find that
people on different sides of the issue look down upon the other group. As
I go to Mass every Sunday, I struggle with integrating my feminism with my
Catholicism, said Loretta Pequeno, 30, of Chicago.
In an attempt to offer practical skills, the leadership conference
featured workshops on public speaking, conflict resolution, fund-raising and
running effective meetings. Participants also did individual discernment about
their spiritual gifts, goal-setting and strategic planning.
The ultimate goal of the weekend was to move the fledgling
organization into the future. A lot of feminism is talking. We want to
push action, said 23-year-old Stephanie Barnes of Nashville, Tenn., one
of four conference organizers. The Networks goal is to train leaders who
can organize volunteer groups, start book clubs, gather spirituality circles
and educate others about the need to work for equal rights for men and women in
the church.
This first group of leaders promised to do just that. In a closing
liturgy, participants named their commitments, which included starting a
womens group and planning an event for the Womens Ordination Day of
Prayer in March. The Networks mission statement condemns non-inclusive
teachings and policies and says, [W]e believe that the current status of
women in the Catholic church defers young peoples involvement in the
church and the claiming of their religious values in public life.
Many agreed that too many Gen Xers see institutional
religion as irrelevant. What strikes me is how few people my age are
involved with church reform, said Mark Anderson, 39, of Arlington, Va.
It worries me deeply that folks in my own generation feel so alienated
they dont even deal with the church at all.
On the other hand, those attending insisted the
apathetic label for Generation X is overused and inaccurate.
Were no longer wearing arm bands, but we are still
passionate, said Kerry Ford of Auburndale, Mass. While they honor the
women who came before them in the struggle for gender equality in the church,
they recognize their need to create something new -- and eventually to pass on
the torch themselves.
If the leadership conference is any indication, the approach of
these younger feminists will mostly likely include an emphasis on spirituality
and prayer -- and lots of E-mail.
Anne Avellone, a 34-year-old Chicagoan who works with the Paulist
Lay Missioner program, said she came to the leadership conference to draw on
the energy of younger women. A lot of the women I connect with over these
issues are older women who have been great mentors, she said. Now I
need to reconnect with my peers.
Anderson said he believed the newly trained group of young leaders
can be a beacon of hope to their generation. Its become apparent to
me that if there is to be a new church, we are it.
National Catholic Reporter, October 2,
1998
|