Women Religious should develop their potential and become professionals in their work to counter male domination, a woman theologian advised Catholic nuns in India."In the absence of this professionalism, we will be still subjugated by patriarchal control," maintained Columban Sister Cathleen Coyle.
The Dublin-based theologian addressed the 45th annual assembly of the women's section of the Conference of Religious India (CRI). Approximately 345 major superiors attended the four-day meeting in Mangalore, a coastal Christian stronghold in Karnataka state, 2,290 kilometers southwest of New Delhi. It ended Jan. 1.
"Prophetic mysticism: the call of empowered Religious women" was the theme of the assembly for major superiors representing about 91,700 professed women Religious in the country.
Sister Coyle, who teaches in Dublin and is a visiting lecturer at the East Asian Pastoral Institute in Manila, told the assembly that "women everywhere and at all levels suffer immensely" from male domination.
Discrimination against women has prevailed in all religions, and "even the Church followed the same tradition," the theologian said, asking women to "activate our innate God-given power" to fight subjugation.
The oppression of women is evident in their general absence from decision-making positions, she said. In response she suggested that women become professionals with dignity and authority as one way to gain equality.
Sister Coyle said the Religious vocation is primarily to become part of the mystical body of Christ, and secondly to transfer that spiritual power to people. Without mystical experience, women cannot be empowered, she said.
The theologian-nun said the "Church baptizes us, absolves us, marries us, blesses us, confirms us and gives us communion just as it does men," so women have the same authority as men in the mission of God. "Therefore, a change is urgently needed and the change must begin with us," she said.
Sister Coyle, who led three sessions on various aspects of prophetic mysticism, said Religious life is a commitment to live prophetically.
"Vowed poverty is a protest against materialism, consumerism, selfishness, and against the poverty in which the poor of the world are forced to live." Celibacy, she added, must be seen as a perfect means to become closer to God and people. It is "not mere sexual abstinence, not non-love, but another way of loving," she explained.
Women Religious should learn "prophetic mysticism" from Jesus, who was in perfect union with God and the world, she urged. Pointing out that "in Religious life, the divine energy is transformed into compassion," she said "compassionate mission must flow from our contemplation."
Sister Coyle observed that women Religious "must allow mystical and prophetic energy to flow into our worship, ministries, formation programs, and into our day to day dealing with people."
Sister Evelyn Monteiro, who teaches at Jnana Deepa Vidyapeeth (light of knowledge university), the pontifical seminary in Pune, western India, told the assembly her theological formation has enabled her to "speak with authority." The Cross of Chavanod nun noted that most Religious trained in theology have been men, and she urged women's congregations to change this. She suggested they start an institute to train women theologians.
Sister Jyothi, superior general of the Bethany Sisters, told UCA News her congregation already has professionally trained social workers, journalists, health-care workers, teachers and preachers.
The congregation began in Mangalore in 1921.
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