The drive for Church reform can be said to stem from a serious understanding of the words spoken over each person on the day of their baptism.

Being blessed with the oil of chrism, the celebrant speaks the words: “As Christ was anointed Priest, Prophet, and King, so may you live always as a member of his body, sharing in his life.”

The anointing signifies Christ’s threefold ministry, which we are called to share.

A Church beyond reform

Over 10 years ago, in an opinion piece on the Association of Catholic Priests (Ireland) website, Roy Donovan, himself a priest, stated his belief that the institutional Church was beyond reform.

He argued that the Church refused to listen, talk, and learn from, among others, those who have left because of a lack of reform. The evidence, he said, was seen in empty pews.

Committed to change

Reform groups want to work with the Church to achieve reform.

Penelope Middleboe, a founding member of the reform group Root & Branch, says there is a need to pursue reform at both local and international levels.

In his 2013 exhortation Evangelii Gaudium, Pope Francis urged us to work together in this mission, highlighting the Church as a community of disciples built on mercy and solidarity.

Scripture tells us we are called to play our part in the journey of faith — not only for ourselves but for others, too.

Sisters and brothers … just as each of us has one body with many members — and these members don’t have the same function — so all of us, in union with Christ, form one body. And as members of that one body, we belong to each other … we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to each of us … use in proportion to your faith.

Synodality as a pathway

Synodality is held up as the pathway to reform. Pope Francis proffered it as a gift to the People of God.

Heading into year four of the process, there is still resistance to:

• The female diaconate
• Equality for all
• Recognition of LGBTQA+ peoples
• Divorced and remarried Catholics
• Removal of clericalism/patriarchy.

The experience people spoke so well of in Rome was only for a fortunate few.

Universally, the People of God in Religious congregations, parishes, dioceses and diocesan structures and offices around the world continue to look forward in hope.

• Jackie Minnock has a BTh from the Priory Institute Dublin and an M.Phil in Inter cultural Theology and Inter religious Studies at Trinity College Dublin. She has written several articles and contributed to Catholc Women Preach Jackie is passionate about reform within the Catholic church.