Asian Catholic Women PDF Download

As a historical, theological, and analytical study, this dissertation focuses on the new emerging ecclesiology in the Roman Catholic Church in Asia presented by the Federation of Asian Bishops' Conference (FABC). This new ecclesiology aims to promote a participatory model of church in which dialogue within the church, especially dialogue between the church hierarchy and women, has helped to shape the FABC's vision of a new way of being church for mission. This means that through dialogue with women, the Asian church can engage in dialogue with the Asian religions and with the poor effectively. In this new vision of church, women both play a vital role in sustaining the faith of church members and building an important bridge between the church and the people of other religions. The dissertation argues that Asian women, through their services, participations, and their voices, have significantly influenced the Asian bishops' consciousness of women's concerns and roles. More important, through dialogue with the Asian bishops, women have shaped and continue to shape the FABC's vision of a new way of being church for mission. The dissertation is comprised of five chapters: The first chapter presents a theological foundation of the FABC after Vatican II (1962-1965). This theological foundation helped the Asian church open up for women's fuller participation in the life and mission of the church. The second chapter explores a history of dialogue between the Asian bishops and women from 1974-2012. The third chapter studies the FABC's new ecclesiology in which women became one of the most concerned topic of the FABC's documents. The fourth chapter studies methods and strategies employed by Asian women to negotiate with the church hierarchy. The fifth chapter studies how Asian women enrich the church's self-understanding as well as the church's engagement in dialogue with people of other religions. The concluding chapter shows that there were two recognizable movements within the participatory church: the upward movement from women's efforts when they raise their voices and engage in dialogue with church hierarchy, and the downward movement when the Asian bishops are willing to open themselves to dialogue with women and take their concerns into account.