Catholic women’s network in german-speaking countries: “That’s the only way forward!”

Catholic women of women’s associations, initiatives, women religious orders and church bodies from Germany, Austria, Liechtenstein and Switzerland came together over the weekend to network for the very first time.

The global initiative Voices of Faith had invited the key figures to Stuttgart from 1 to 3 November 2019.

The women’s network agreed that in view of the catastrophic church crisis, urgently needed reforms must now be tackled.

The network agrees with Doris Wagner’s statement that we women urgently need to stop supporting violent structures. The effective participation of women is needed now, so that vulnerable and wounded people and the mortally threatened creation can once again be at the centre of church commitment. “We women no longer have time to wait. We stand up together and do our utmost to ensure that the church has a future: life-friendly and women-friendly. We call on all women: Use your positive power for change!” said Chantal Götz, Managing Director of Voices of Faith.

At this first meeting, the network identified key issues and gave working groups authority and confidence to work on these issues to overcome internal church blockages. Some of these issues discussed were: Sacrament theology and office structure, criteria and transparency in episcopal ordinations and appointments, symbolic order and vulnerability.

The network also agreed: We urgently need an international meeting at world church level. The participants empower Voices of Faith, with the support of the networks mentioned below, to take the organisation of this meeting into their own hands.

We call on Catholic initiatives, associations, women’s orders and church bodies to courageously work for an equal and just church.

• Aktion Lila Stola” der KirchenVolksBewegung Deutschland

• Andante

• DFG-Forschungsprojekt: Verwundbarkeiten

• Frauenkirche Zentralschweiz

• Frauenkommission der Diözese Linz

• Franziska Driessen-Reding, Präsidentin Synodalrat Zürich

• Hildegardis Verein

• #JuniaInitiative

• Katholischen Frauenbewegung Österreich

• KDFB Bundesverband

• kfd-Bundesverband e.V.

• Mädchen- und Frauenarbeit, Bistum Limburg

• Maria 2.0

• Ordensfrauen für Menschenwürde

• Priorin Irene Gassmann OSB, Kloster Fahr Schweiz

• SKF Schweizerischer Katholischer Frauenbund

• Sr. Dr. Maria Johanna Lauterbach OCist, Kloster Ave Maria, La Paz, Bolivien

• Sr. Philippa Rath OSB, Abtei St. Hildegard

• Voices of Faith

• Wir Sind Kirche Österreich

Media Contact

For interviews please contact the General Manager of Voices of Faith::

Zuzanna Flisowska.
zuzanna.flisowska@voicesoffaith.org
+39 351 523 4217

Source: voicesoffaith.org