This is a submission for the Second Assembly of the Synod on Synodality drawn up by a group of Catholic scholars – theologians, historians and pastoral workers. If you would like to add your name to the list of sponsors of this submission, we invite you to do so by means of the attached form.
Submission to the Second Assembly of the Synod on Synodality
We are a group of lay Catholic students, researchers, scholars and teachers who wish to share our experience as scholars with the Synod on Synodality.
We hear Pope Francis’ call for a contextualised theology based on dialogue.It is with the spirit of dialogue and synodality that we raise the issue of equal and just employment of dedicated lay theologians and scholars in service to the mission of the Church.
We note that the Synthesis from the First Assembly called for women’s access to formation programmes and theological study “to be considerably expanded.” and that “women should also be integrated into seminary teaching and training programs to foster better formation for ordained ministry.”
We fully endorse these points and therefore wish to:
- draw attention to the practical challenges experienced by lay scholars and academics in gaining equal and just employment and
- call on the Synod to foster and support lay people post-graduate academics and scholars engaged in long-term study and research across the theological, philosophical, canonical, historical, anthropological, and pastoral fields in response to the urgent needs of today.
The issues
Through anecdotal evidence, we have become painfully aware of the sacrifices and suffering of many of many lay women and men who have and continue to devote years to intensive such study and research as part of their vocation and mission to the Church. These include
- Accruing student debts exceeding $US100,000 in some cases
- The Loss of years of paid employment and corresponding contributions to retirement funds
- Chronic unemployment or underemployment
- Low salaries or the expectation of providing service gratis
- Work in areas outside their chosen fields due to a number of reasons including the lack of valuing the work of lay theologians and scholars, especially women.
Consequently, many have recounted their mental, emotional, psychological , physical and financial stresses on personal and family life brought on by financial instability and the challenge to provide for adequate living, educational and health needs of families. Financial stress compounds, continues into retirement owing to the loss of years of earning capacity and retirement contributions.
Women scholars and theologians in particular find themselves marginalised as a result of these consequences. Lay women have also expressed the reality of racial and gender bias with the field of theology impacting on their ability to attain positions where their work is valued and supported. While Catholic institutions hold the value of equal access and opportunity where employment is concerned, it is a generally accepted fact that preferential options and opportunities often lean towards the religious and ordained, especially in seminaries and Catholic institutions of learning.
Catholic Social Teaching
In his 1981 encyclical, Laborem Exercens, Pope John Paul II defined work as follows:
Work means any activity by man (sic), whether manual or intellectual, whatever its nature or circumstances; it means any human activity that can and must be recognised as work, in the midst of all the many activities of which man is capable and to which he is predisposed by his very nature, by virtue of humanity itself.
There is a forgetfulness that academic study, research and work undertaken by lay people must similarly be understood within the realm of Catholic Social Teaching
Moreover, as stated in §32 of the Compendium on Catholic Social Doctrine:
Remuneration is the most important means for achieving justice in work relationships. The “just wage is the legitimate fruit of work”. They commit grave injustice who refuse to pay a just wage or who do not give it in due time and in proportion to the work done…
Lay Catholic academics and theologians are calling for greater consideration towards fair and just opportunities and wages. Remuneration is intended for the development of all peoples, including lay scholars and theologians whose critical collective work contributes and enhances the social, cultural, and spiritual common good. Good theology for authentic and impactful pastoral provision is never more needed today, given the numerous interlocking crises of a globalised world. Proper and just wages for theologians and academics in our universities, parishes, seminaries and all places of work goes a long way towards ensuring human progress within and outside of the Church.
The apostolate of lay theologians and academics, we re-iterate is for “the better development of the natural capacities of the laity-men and women, young persons and adults.” (Apostolicam Actuositatem §32)
Accordingly, we urge the Synod to address the continued lack of attention by the Church in general, to consider seriously the issue of income support and employment inequities faced by lay scholars, particularly women scholars and theologians.
Proposals
We fully recognise the myriad challenges, particularly financial challenges, facing local churches in many dioceses and countries around the world, particularly in the Global South. Nevertheless, finding solutions to problems acknowledges that a problem exists. Accordingly, we humbly propose the following to the Synod on Synodality:
- That the Synod itself explicitly validate the academic study, research and work of lay theologians as an important, indeed vital form of human work
- That the Synod particularly recognise the importance of promoting high level academic study by lay Catholic scholars through making practical provisions for their support and continued scholarship
- That local churches be encouraged to prioritise and mobilise resources to in the collective aim of providing adequate support for Catholic scholars, particularly at the post-graduate level
- That Catholic universities and colleges be encouraged to give priority to developing funds and foundations for the support of post-graduate students. We acknowledge that this is happening in many developed countries, but there is a need for wider lay-focussed initiatives with a preferential option for women scholars of colour and those from the Global South.
- That the Church at every level make better provision to assist in the transition from advanced study into paid employment.
Signed
Cecilia Tan-Francisco, Australia
David Moloney, Australia
Ludovicus Mardiyono, Indonesia
Stefan Gigacz, Australia
Richard Pütz, USA
Tracy McEwan, Australia
Catherine Corbitt, Australia
Network of Catholic Scholars
15 May 2024
133rd Anniversary of Rerum Novarum