Be the Change, Catholic Church, Aotearoa New Zealand chose Sunday - the day before the anniversary of women's suffrage day - to mount their installation where dozens of pairs of shoes were placed so they led to the Catholic cathedrals in central Auckland and Wellington.

Splashes of pink - including among the shoes - coloured the occasion, along with music, singing and speeches.

The shoes signify the largely unpaid work women have done for the Church throughout the ages, organisers say. Their contributions were recorded in accompanying printed vignettes.

Despite women often being in the majority of organisers and participants in any Catholic congregation and liturgical celebration, their role in the church is not equal, organisers point out.

The Catholic Church continues the injustice of refusing to recognise women's worth by denying them equality in leadership roles, Pink Shoes into the Vatican say.

Best wishes came from Steve Lowe, Catholic bishop of Auckland.

Apologising to "Pink Shoes into the Vatican" group for his inability to be with them in person, Lowe wrote a supportive letter.

"While there have been and continue to be a litany of amazing women throughout this history of the Church, your presence and voice today is a reminder that you are the Church and Church's need to change," he said.

"Thank you for your prophetic hikoi to the Cathedral today, which is ultimately a call to respect the dignity that flows from our being created male and female in the image and likeness of our God.

"Your voice today echoes the voice of women throughout the world who, as part of the current synodal process, are calling on the Church to reflect the inherent dignity of women in the leadership of the Church... May we have the courage not to get stuck in structures that are not necessarily of God."

In the absence of the bishop, the Administrator of St Patrick's Cathedral, Chris Denham, received the women's statement and gave them Lowe's letter of support.

"When Fiona and Christina visited me a couple of months ago, they presented me with Kate's pink shoes. They (the shoes) remain in my office and are certainly a talking point. They also remind me I too need to change," Lowe wrote.

Wellington's Coadjutor Archbishop Paul Martin, however, denied the Pink Shoes into the Vatican group publicity for their shoe installation. He also wrote to parishes in the Wellington archdiocese requesting they do the same.

"Since the archbishop's edict to parishes not to advertise this event, one woman has written of her indignation. Others have asked, 'what was he thinking?'" a Wellington organiser Cecily McNeil told the group.

She invited the Archbishop to read the first few paragraphs in the archdiocesan synod synthesis.

With Cardinal Dew in the South Island and Martin in Rome, there was no one to receive the predominantly women's group in Wellington.

Priest, Jim Dooley, spoke at the Wellington gathering saying his fellow priests did not understand equality because, in their priestly formation, they were exposed to a different set of principles.

He said, to applause, that what the women were looking for was a "no brainer."

Dooley equated the church's treatment of women to slavery, a reference to the fact that in most churches, women do much of the work - cleaning and pastoral work as well as liturgical preparation, almost always for no pay.

Source

• Be the Change
• Letter of Bishop Steve Lowe
• Supplied: Be the Change Wellington.

From the far reaches of New Zealand to the very heart of Catholicism in Rome, the Pink Shoes Into The Vatican Campaign is making a bold statement on gender inequality within the Church.

Led by Be the Change Aotearoa New Zealand, this grassroots initiative will take the form of an eye-catching art installation in October, featuring worn-out women's shoes adorned with pink ribbons.

However, these aren't just shoes; each pair tells a tale of women's hardships within the Church.

Christina Reymer, an active member of Be the Change, is personally taking the shoes to Rome.

The Pink Shoes Into The Vatican campaign, launched in Auckland and Wellington last year, is set to be a vivid reminder of one of the Church's largest overlooked constituencies — its women.

It has already sparked international interest and seems certain to ignite conversation — and possibly even controversy.

"While the official synod will for the first time include lay people, including women, the concern is that this will still be a highly orchestrated event with vain hope for real change" says Reymer.

"We want to cast the net wider, to hear from the ‘majority', most of whom have already left, having felt marginalised by the church's abuses of gender discrimination, clericalism, patriarchy, sexual and emotional abuse, colonialism and other injustices, including the environment."

The Pink Shoes art installation will stand as a graphic illustration of one of the largest marginalised voices in the Church, the voice of women.

Spirit Unbounded

While in Rome, Reymer will also attend the Spirit Unbounded lay-led synodal assembly from October 8-14.

Spirit Unbounded is an independent gathering that will run parallel to Pope Francis's Synod on Synodality.

"While the Pope's initiative is a step in the right direction, many worry it's too controlled, too orchestrated," Reymer told CathNews.

"We aim to hear from those who've already left the Church, disheartened by its failure to fully address gender discrimination, abuse and other social and environmental issues."

Spirit Unbounded seeks to create a global network of Catholic reform and other Christian groups that actively embrace diversity and work to include groups marginalised by the hierarchical Church.

Spirit Unbounded currently enjoys 43 companions.

The Spirit Unbounded event, which is both an in-person and online event, will feature more than 100 global speakers including notable figures such as Benedictine Sr Joan Chittister and Dr Mary McAleese, former President of Ireland.

Other Spirit Unbounded voices include Pa Ropata, Professor Thomas O'Loughlin, Dr James Alison, Professor Leonardo Boff, Cherie Blair, Bishop Bridget Mary Meehan, Dr Tom Doyle and Fr Diarmuid O'Murchu.

The ‘Human Rights in the Emerging Catholic Church' event aims to push the envelope even further, insisting that the Church must evolve to address contemporary global challenges from social injustice to environmental degradation.

Sources

• Supplied - Be the Change Catholic Church Aotearoa
• CathNews NZ
• Spirit Unbounded

Formed by the scriptures and teachings of the Catholic Church and the circumstances of today, Be the Change Catholic Church Aotearoa (BCCCA) says their vision comes from their context, Aotearoa, and our time, 2022.

The group say they are using the "synodal lens of participation."

In making their submission, BCCCA recognise we are at a time of major transition for our planet, for humankind and for the Catholic Church.

"Together we must do the deep analysis and envisioning which will carry us into the future", they say.

"Created reality is dynamic and developing. To have a future, the Church must change."

BCCCA's submission says the group is working to re-express their Catholic faith and restructure the institution so that it is adequate for today's work of transformation and healing in communities.

The group wants an inclusive Church that "incorporates our Tiriti O Waitangi, prioritises care of our planetary home and raises our consciousness to a deeper form of loving."

The submission outlines concerns and possible solutions.

BCCCA say the people are the Church but that participation in today's Church is discouraged by inflexible expressions of theological doctrine and rigidly imposed liturgical practice.

They say these factors do not reflect contemporary scientific knowledge and our cultural context.

BCCCA submit that enlivening and re-expressing God's image in dialogue with contemporary scientific and theological learning, would help Church participation. The submission says it is time to emphasise a different narrative and interpretation of the Christian story.

"We tell a new story that makes more sense to people of our time, drawing on the voices of contemporary theologians.

"We acknowledge human sin but reject the unbalanced emphasis on a mythical original sin and the image of an offended God which is still so evident in liturgy and prayer."

They maintain creation is an expression of God's love.

"In the light of Laudato Si, we venture new understanding of incarnation and salvation. Jesus shows us that God is merciful love and teaches us that his way is the path to becoming a New Creation.

"The extraordinarily wonderful implication of God-with-us as matter, must be told more clearly," say BCCCA.

The theology of the human person acknowledges we are made in the image of God and found good, the submission says.

This theological perspective involves "radical inclusivity regardless of sex or sexuality, nationality, economic status, education or disability. All voices have a right to be heard.

"We prioritise the Catholic notions of sensus fidelium, subsidiarity and inculturation to achieve change in our own communities."

BCCCA say that Church leadership needs to be flexible to a point where everyone can be included in everything that the Church does. Leadership needs to be humble, transparent and accountable through the use of appropriate language.

Current practice has meant clericalism and rigid rubrics preclude much creative participation in sacraments and liturgy. Mission has become a secondary focus in many faith communities.

Describing its work, the group says it has two equally important parts:

• Care and development of who we are (Liturgy & Pastoral Care)
• Advocacy and action for justice in our world (Mission)

In terms of the first of these points, the group says it involves everything from facilitating neighbourhood opportunities to gather to praise and thank God, updating language, seeking adult faith formation and education opportunities, and undertaking advocacy and action for justice.

This covers a range of issues: speaking justly and truthfully into the public discourse in Aotearoa, decolonisation, social justice, affirming and supporting good, creation, the environment, human rights and a renewed church.

The submission says there needs to be a change in the way the Church works with people.

Today, the possibility of participating in genuine leadership is open only to those who are ordained.

The group envisages "authority and leadership as it relates to organisational and liturgical decisionmaking, will always practise flexibility, humility, transparency and accountability."

Source

• Be the Change Synod Submission