ROME (Reuters) - Calling the Vatican ``the world's last absolute monarchy,'' dissident Roman Catholics from around the world on Thursday demanded radical reforms in their Church, including ordination of women priests.
The dissidents are holding a ``shadow synod'' to counter an official synod of Roman Catholic Bishops at the Vatican, a gathering they say is just another symbol of a male-dominated church.
``We're talking about vast numbers of Catholics who want change about many issues,'' said Valerie Stroud, the shadow synod's general secretary and a leader of movements for reform in the Catholic Church in Great Britain.
``The Vatican is the world's last absolute monarchy but we are a Church that is not built with stones. We are human beings. The strength of the people is the Church and that's what we're talking about when we talk about democracy,'' she said.
``We have to have the courage to stand and speak on behalf of people who want change but have no voice,'' she told a news conference.
The issue of women in the Church regularly pops up during discussions about reform.
The Catholic Church bans ordination of women priests, asserting that Christ willingly chose only men as his apostles.
Advocates of a female priesthood reject this, saying Christ was only acting according to the norms of his times. They also say the Catholic Church badly needs to ordain women to fill gaps because of the shortage of priests around the world.
OPEN LETTER
``When you look at the structure of our Church it is not a coincidence that we speak about women's rights because those who are excluded from authority are women,'' said Elfride Harth, spokeswoman for 'We Are the Church Movement', a reform group.
``We have no way of having a say in our Church when it comes to decision making. The woman's question will arrive everywhere -- when you talk about celibacy you talk about women, when you talk about sexual morality you talk about women, when you talk about justice you talk about women because most of the poor in the world are women,'' she said.
Women's Ordination Worldwide (WOW), an international coalition of Catholic groups for female priesthood, plan to hang banners near the Vatican reading ``Ordain Women Priests'' during the official bishops synod.
``By not ordaining women the Church 'fathers' are depriving the Church of a gift and they will be held accountable for that,'' said Soline Vatinel, a WOW spokeswoman from Ireland.
The group sent an open letter to Pope John Paul (news - web sites) and the bishops saying they wanted to have a dialogue about change.
Other issues the shadow synod will discuss are the Church's ban on divorce, artificial birth control, contraceptives and married priests.
``Marriages do not last. People change. What do we do as a community about the re-married?'' said Stroud.
``Many people in the Church are homosexuals and the bishops don't want to talk about it,'' said Christian Weisner, the shadow synod's spokesman.
``We want to see reform in the church generally,'' said John O'Brian of the U.S.-based Catholics for a Free Choice.
``The Vatican has tried to close off discussion about changing the position on contraception. But the reality is that Catholics from Ireland to Lithuania to Latin America do not obey the teachings on contraception, so it's a lie,'' he said.