Many Catholics see Sister Nathalie’s appointment as a glimmer of hope. She is seen as someone who can bring much-needed change to the Catholic Church, which has been criticized for being slow to adapt to the modern world and for failing to adequately address issues such as the clergy sex abuse scandal.
While her appointment is undoubtedly a step forward for women in the church, there are doubts about just how much change she can bring. The fact remains that the Catholic Church is a deeply patriarchal institution, and many of the highest-ranking officials are resistant to change.
Additionally, some critics argue that giving women a greater say in the church without actually giving them any real power is just window dressing. Until women are allowed to hold positions of real authority within the church, they argue, any progress will be superficial at best.
Despite the challenges, Sister Nathalie remains optimistic. She believes that the Catholic Church can adapt and evolve, just as it has throughout its long history.
With her experience and determination, she may be able to steer the church towards a more inclusive and forward-looking future.
Sister Nathalie Becquart has been instrumental in canvassing ordinary Catholics about their needs and hopes for the future of the church.
She has found that the call for change is both unambiguous and universal, with demands for greater decision-making roles for women taking center stage.
In an interview with The Associated Press, Sister Nathalie highlighted the desire of many women to participate more fully in the life of the church, and to share their gifts and talents for the benefit of all. She emphasized the importance of working together as men and women, with a shared vision of equality and dignity.
Despite the many challenges facing the Catholic Church, Sister Nathalie remains hopeful that meaningful change is possible. She believes that the upcoming synod could be a pivotal moment, providing an opportunity for the church to move towards greater inclusivity and a renewed sense of purpose.
The synodal process initiated by Pope Francis has sparked unusual hope among women who have long felt marginalized by the Catholic Church. Despite the fact that the church’s doctrine bars women from its highest ranks, many women are optimistic that meaningful change is possible.
However, there has also been a strong backlash from conservative elements within the church, who view the synodal process as a threat to the traditional all-male hierarchy.
Despite this opposition, both Sister Nathalie Becquart and Pope Francis remain committed to the process, seeing the criticism and alarm as a sign that the church is undergoing significant and necessary change.
Sister Nathalie acknowledges the resistance and backlash against the synodal process, but sees it as a sign that significant change is underway. She notes that throughout history, the most important points of reform have always been met with resistance and debate.
However, she also emphasizes that change is necessary for the church to move forward and adapt to the modern world.
She remains optimistic that the process will ultimately lead to a more inclusive and welcoming church, where women are given equal opportunities to contribute and participate in decision-making. By remaining steadfast in the face of opposition, Sister Nathalie believes that progress is not only possible, but inevitable.
Pope Francis has been a vocal proponent of promoting women within the Catholic Church, even while maintaining the church’s stance on women’s ordination. He has changed church law to allow women to serve in various roles, including reading Scripture and serving as eucharistic ministers.
In a significant move towards greater inclusion, Francis appointed Sister Nathalie as the first female undersecretary in the Synod of Bishops, granting her the right to vote at the upcoming October synod.
This was a major step forward from the previous practice of allowing women to participate only as nonvoting experts, auditors, or observers.
Furthermore, Francis has expanded the voting rights to laypeople in general, rather than limiting it to men only. This demonstrates his belief that the governance of the church should be entrusted to the baptized faithful, regardless of their gender or ordination status.
While there is still resistance within the church to greater inclusion of women, these reforms are seen as historic and a step in the right direction towards a more equal and inclusive church.
Sister Nathalie Becquart has had a long career of leadership within the French church, where she ran the bishops’ youth evangelization program. As a graduate of Paris’ HEC business school, Sister Nathalie brings a unique skill set to her role in the Vatican.
She draws inspiration from the women who have come before her, both within the Vatican and in her own religious community. She learned from her grandmother, who was widowed while pregnant with her fourth child, that women carry a message of strength and resilience, even in the face of adversity.
These lessons are particularly applicable to her work as a sailor and spiritual leader, where she frequently encounters difficulty and challenges.
Sister Nathalie remains steadfast in her belief that no matter how bad the storm may seem, it will eventually pass. This same faith in the power of endurance and resilience is guiding her work in the Vatican as she continues to advocate for greater inclusion and participation of women in the Catholic Church.
Despite the progress made by women like Sister Nathalie Becquart, there are still concerns that the traditional patriarchal structure of the Catholic Church will continue to hold sway. While women are now allowed to hold high-profile appointments and vote at the upcoming synod, it is still largely men who hold the real power within the church.
According to church historian Lucetta Scaraffia, who participated in a 2016 synod, the reforms made so far have been largely superficial. Scaraffia paints a stark picture of the marginalization felt by women in the Catholic Church, describing it as a world where women are nonexistent and do not even exist.
While there is no doubt that progress has been made, it remains to be seen whether the Catholic Church will be able to fully embrace greater equality and inclusivity, particularly when it comes to the role of women in the church’s hierarchy. The upcoming synod will be a crucial test of just how committed the church is to meaningful change.
While Sister Nathalie Becquart’s role at the Vatican and in the synod process is certainly groundbreaking, there are still major barriers to achieving true parity of power for women in the Catholic Church. As Jean-Marie Guenois, chief religious affairs correspondent for Le Figaro, points out, the patriarchal culture of the church is deeply ingrained and has been shaped by thousands of years of history and theology. This means that any real change will take time.
Despite these challenges, Guenois still sees Sister Nathalie’s position as prophetic. He notes that prophets are often faced with opposition but remain determined to move forward, and he believes that Sister Nathalie embodies this spirit.
Ultimately, whether or not the synodal process brings about meaningful change will depend on the willingness of those in power to listen to the voices of women and other marginalized groups within the church. While progress may be slow, there is hope that the Catholic Church can continue to evolve and become more inclusive and equitable for all its members.