Plenary Council (in Australia)

[A Yearning Heart]

Home page - https://plenarycouncil.catholic.org.au/ (motions and votes are in a subpage). 

I am perplexed as how this plenary represents the Catholic Church in Australia fully as I've seen a lot of online commentary across the diversity of opinions on this - some supportive, some despairing, some really, really angry.

Also slightly worried as the outcomes of the council are apparently binding for Australian parishes once they get passed. 

The vote on the equality of men and women in the Church has caused some angst in this council - they spent 2 or more years working on it and it got voted down (I don't disagree that happened, just the process seems odd) - https://catholicleader.com.au/news/vote-over-role-of-women-disrupts-in-plenary-council-assembly/?utm_content=213973159&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook&hss_channel=fbp-359861584057924&fbclid=IwAR1UXV6m0ggtawOgsvVxy4vjdIPG-LdAyJ5ICJoxrKRt0yadYnWrdNidLxM.

Now, the motions that were voted down are getting rewritten into a form that may pass voting:  https://mediablog.catholic.org.au/members-will-reconsider-two-plenary-council-motions/

Voting system: 

Placet = yes

Placet juxta modum = yes with reservations

non placet= no

Motion 4.6 -  voted down by both laity (consultative vote) and bishops (deliberative vote).

"That each Australian diocese and eparchy foster new opportunities for women to participate
in ministries and roles that are stable, publicly recognised, resourced with appropriate
formation including theological education and commissioned by the bishop. These ministries
and roles should engage with the most important aspects of diocesan and parish life and have
a real impact on those communities."

Consultative vote

Placet 84
Placet Juxta Modum 31
Non Placet 97

The motion did not achieve a qualified majority on the consultative vote.

Deliberative vote

Placet 27
Placet Juxta Modum 5
Non Placet 11

The motion did not achieve a qualified majority on the deliberative vote. The motion was not
passed.

Motion 4.5 - voted down

That the Plenary Council adopt the introductory statement of Part 4 shown in paragraphs 49-
54, with paragraphs 50, 52 and 54 amended as marked in red below.
50. Recognition of the equality of women and men has grown in western societies over time,
with political and civic institutions responding accordingly. Particularly since the 1960s, a
growing awareness of the equal dignity of women and men has reshaped Australian social
and political life. Nonetheless, inequality between women and men persists and there is still
much to be done and the Church is called to respond actively to these issues in society.
52. On this matter, the Church in Australia has travelled some distance in more recent times.
The living witness of countless women of faith has profoundly shaped our history in many
ways, including through family, motherhood, work, and the lay apostolate...
54. THEREFORE, this Plenary Council commits the Church in Australia to acting in a way that
witnesses clearly to the equal dignity of women and men, with their diverse gifts and
experiences, overcoming the assumptions that lead to inequality, and to “enhancing the role
of women in the Church”. This will involve:

Placet 182
Placet Juxta Modum 15
Non Placet 16

a. ensuring that women are appropriately represented in decision-making structures
of Church governance at the parish, diocese or eparchy, and national level, and in
Church agencies and organisations;
b. ensuring, through formal policies and intentional practice, that the experiences and
perspectives of women are heard, considered and valued. This is particularly
important for matters which affect them distinctively;
c. ensuring that dioceses and eparchies value more publicly, recognise and, where
necessary, remunerate more appropriately those women already leading and serving
in the Church in various ways;
d. Reviewing actions taken to address the findings of the research report Woman and
Man: One in Christ Jesus (1999) and identifying where further action is appropriate to
progress the commitments made in the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference Social
Justice Statement, Woman and Man: The Bishops Respond (2000);
e. women engaged in ministry sharing with the Australian bishops their experiences
and reflections on ministry, and reporting to Pope Francis’ reconstituted Study
Commission on the Female Diaconate;
f. considering women for ministry as deacon – should Pope Francis authorise such
ministry in light of the findings of the reconstituted Study Commission on the Female
Diaconate; and
g. presenting scriptural and theological formation and catechesis on the dignity of
women at the parish, diocesan, and national level.
Consultative vote

Placet 148
Placet Juxta Modum 27
Non Placet 36

The motion achieved a qualified majority on the consultative vote.
Deliberative vote

Placet 25
Placet Juxta Modum 10
Non Placet 8

The motion did not achieve a qualified majority on the deliberative vote. The motion was not
passed.