The shape of things to come

Since I gladly accepted the editor's invitation to write this column I guess a few ground rules are in place so that readers know (at least roughly) what general direction I will be taking in these weekly commentaries that will be accompanied by snippets from the news and/or some quotable quotes.

I believe that public opinion is very important for the Church. The expression of public opinion should not be mainly reserved for the official space i.e. structures such as parish pastoral councils, the Diocesan Pastoral Council, etc. Public opinion should first and foremost be expressed in public. Since the media occupy a privileged space in this sphere, Catholics are expected to publicly express their views about the Church. Such views can be either supportive or critical of the institutions and the people who run them. The Church should not be like a political party on the eve of an election. Ranks are expected to close at that time. Dissent is anathema. The Church should be completely the opposite.

The Church is, after all, a multi-layered organisation. It is not the property of those in authority. The Church is all of us who have been granted the dignity of children of God through baptism. Dissenting views should be as welcome as supportive views. Silence should be the only thing considered as anathema. Those who love the Church should speak about their love in public, warts and all.

This is the spirit that will animate my comments.

Let me give an example. The Church is this year celebrating the 20th anniversary of Pope John Paul II's apostolic letter Mulieris Dignitatem (The Dignity of Women). Our discussion should refer to positive steps that have been taken in the last 20 years but it should also point to other steps that could and should be taken.

It is OK to state that the increased presence of women in the coming Synod of Bishops on the Bible (October 5 to 26) is a good (though small) step forward. In fact, more than half the observers and over 14 per cent of the experts at the synod will be women. The nomination of six female scholars as experts, and of 19 women as observers will give this synod the largest bloc of women ever participating in a Catholic Synod of Bishops.

But this should not stop us from asking for more. In my other incarnation in my blog on timesofmalta.com I had proposed that the following steps should be taken by the Church in Malta:

• The introduction of a quota system establishing the minimum number of women that should be members and/or chairpersons of Church commissions;

• Establishing a minimum number of Bishop's delegates who should be women;

• Adopting an advanced family-friendly policy to be followed rigorously at all places of work owned by the Church;

Any reactions?