Paper: Gender Policy of the CBCI
A Christian Contribution to the Empowerment of Women in India
A Christian Contribution to the Empowerment of Women in India
Abstract: The Gender
Policy of the Catholic Church of India, released on 24
February 2010, is the first official gender policy, published by a Catholic
Bishops’ Conference in the universal Church; though the Indian society and
Church still continue to be predominantly patriarchal, the Bishops’ Conference
took the courageous step to officially declare a policy for the empowerment of
women, and opening doors for more creative roles in the Church; The initiative
and work for this policy was undertaken by committed women and supported by
others, including the bishops.
The Gender Policy has three parts: Part I deals
with the need of gender equality, the situation of women in India, biblical and
theological foundation of gender equality and the teaching of the Catholic
Church on gender equality. Part II explains the vision, mission, objectives and
guiding principles. Part III elaborates upon the policy and its implementation
on various levels. Part III, section XI [first section of Part III] is
the most detailed one, which deals with areas of implementation. Policies and
strategies for a more just role of women in the family, society and Church are
outlined. The difficulties women face in different areas like education,
healthcare, social life, etc. are explained and strategies to overcome these
problems are indicated. Part III also includes a section on “Special Areas of
Concern,” such as rights of the girl child, tribal and dalit women, violence
against women and women in difficult circumstances.
Gender Policy is a good starting
point for the empowerment of women in the Church and Society, especially in
India, and thus it is a contribution of the Church to the Indian society.
However, it has to be studied seriously and implemented with sincere
commitment, especially by those in authority. Measures to make women aware of
their rights in the Church and society are also needed. If implemented, it can
become a model for the empowerment of women.Shaji George Kochuthara CMI, Associate Professor of Moral Theology at Dharmaram Vidya Kshetram, Bangalore, is the Chief Editor of Asian Horizons, Dharmaram Journal of Theology, editor of CTEWC Asian Theological Ethics Series, Chairperson of the Institutional Ethical Board of St John’s Medical College (Bangalore), Religious Adviser of the Ethics Committee of St Martha’s Hospital (Bangalore), a member of the international planning committee of “Catholic Theological Ethics in the World Church” and its Asian Regional Chair. He completed post-graduate and doctoral studies in moral theology at the Pontifical Gregorian University, Rome. His publications include The Concept of Sexual Pleasure in the Catholic Moral Tradition (Rome: Gregorian, 2007), Moral Theology in India Today, ed. (2013) and Revisiting Vatican II: 50 Years of Renewal, 3 Volumes (2014-2015), Gender Justice in the Church and Society (2016).
