c. 1996 Religion News Service

VATICAN CITY (RNS)-Pope John Paul II appears to have opened the door a bit further to the role of women in the Catholic Church, stating in a document released Thursday (March 28) that they should be encouraged to promote a”new feminism”in educational and decision-making roles.

But the pope, in a 200-page”apostolic exhortation”on religious life that he said was under increasing strains from modern society, showed no sign of softening his opposition to women’s ordination. In fact, he didn’t mention it.

Instead, he wrote,”It is urgently necessary to take certain concrete steps, beginning by providing room for women to participate in different fields and at all levels, above all in matters which concern women themselves.” The document, entitled”Vita Consecrata”(“Consecrated Life”), was culled from ideas expressed at a 1994 synod on life in the church in which several nuns and priests urged the enhanced role of women.

It offers a sweeping overview of the wide array of challenges facing consecrated Catholic men and women, from temptations of wealth and sex to questions over the growing influence of the media and new ethical problems posed by medical advances.”Today a renewed commitment to holiness by consecrated persons is more necessary than ever,”the pontiff said, urging them to engage in”spiritual combat”to remain observant of church teaching.

The pope also acknowledged the”difficult situation”posed by the dwindling number of Catholic clergy. He asked parents not to discourage the”call”of their sons and daughters to consecrated life.

But he hewed to most of his well-known views, from mandatory celibacy of priests and opposition to married clergy to the strong central authority of Rome in various episcopates around the world.”In an atmosphere strongly affected by individualism, it is not an easy thing to foster recognition and acceptance of the role which authority plays for the benefits of all,”the pope wrote.”Nevertheless, its importance must be reaffirmed as essential for strengthening fraternal communion in order not to render vain the obedience professed.” The document was intended to”reinforce all of the fundamental characteristics of the consecrated life,”said Cardinal Eduardo Martinez Somalo at a news conference to present the paper.”I think it says about as strongly as anyone can say that religious life is at the heart of the church,”said the Rev. Gerald Brown of Baltimore, who participated in the synod. He added that many American Catholics have come to question the need for religious vocations.

It was unclear whether the pope’s gesture toward women would ease tensions that have flared over the ordination ban and other issues, such as reproductive rights.

In a sense, John Paul simply reaffirmed what he has already promised would be women’s heightened role in the church. In a letter to women last year and in other forums, the pope has referred to the”genius of women”as nurturers, educators and political leaders.

But in style, if not substance, the 75-year-old pontiff appeared to go a bit further. In the document released Thursday, he said he favored efforts to promote the role of women in teaching, church administration and other endeavors.”Clearly, a more solid formation, while helping consecrated women to understand better their own gifts, cannot but encourage within the church the reciprocity which is needed.” He added, however,”It depends on them to promote a `new feminism’ which rejects the temptation of imitating models of `male domination.'””This is not going to have administrative teeth,”Brown said,”but it gives people a framework on how it can happen.” Sister Maureen Fiedler of Catholics Speak Out, a liberal church reform advocacy group in Brentwood, Md., said,”I certainly think that we ought to have many more opportunities in spiritual and educational (fields). So maybe he (the pope) could do something to stop seminaries from closing doors to women. But all of this is so much rhetoric until women can be ordained as priests.” The pope also did not waver on his refusal to allow Catholic priests to marry, though he has allowed married priests of other Christian denominations, such as Anglicans, to be ordained in the church.

He acknowledged that the declining number of priests worldwide, estimated at 400,000, is a”difficult situation”that”puts consecrated persons to the test.”He called on pastors, families and teachers to make increasing the numbers a”common endeavor.””Many people today are puzzled and ask: What is the point of the consecrated life?”the pope wrote. He answered,”Beyond all superficial assessments of its usefulness, the consecrated life is important precisely in its being unbounded generosity and love, and this all the more so in a world which risks being suffocated in the whirlpool of the ephemeral.”

MJP END HEILBRONNER