 |
|
BILA
on Women III[1]
|
|
The
invitation to BILA [Bishop’s Institute for Lay Apostolate] III on Women came
as a rather unexpected, but pleasant surprise. Having studied a number of
subjects covering women’s issues during my two-year sojourn in Australia, the
invitation to meet Asian women theologians was one that I readily accepted.
The only glitch I anticipated was that as a representative of the Singapore, I did not have much
to offer in terms of Women’s theology in the Singapore context.
|
|
The
schedule that was prepared took off almost immediately. Participants were whisked off for their Exposure programme soon after dinner while some were still arriving.
Local Thai guides led groups of five into the little Hua Hin town, which
was a ten-minute ride away in the uniquely Thai “toot-toot” vehicle. |
|
|
|
|
The
Exposure was to the local nightlife… It was interesting to meet
the girls [literally] who through the circumstances of their life were
practically cornered into a lifestyle of entertaining
men by their poverty. While
some had adapted, some others eluded a sense of dignity that was admirable in
their circumstances. What became
clearer as the night deepened was that a majority of the girls and women in this
'world' did not choose such a life and would readily give it up if there
were other feasible options. In the
subsequent sharing sessions with the other Asian participants, it was clear that
our encounter with the ‘night-women’ was one that evoked a deep compassion,
a better understanding of Jesus’ stance for the women in such situations.
Most of all it drew from us a desire to uphold the unique place and
dignity of women particularly the poor and those rejected by society.
|
| The
other Exposure programme to a near-by fishing village highlighted the
secondary place women had in a male dominated society. The women of the
fisherfolk community worked hard with long hours but they were accepted as an
essential part of the community unlike the ‘women of the night’ who were
treated as outcasts and a shame to the society.
|
|
|
 |
|
The
rest of the Conference was spent on Reports and sharing sessions till we arrived
at drafting the Final Statement[2]
on the last day. This was a very
tense period as there was a real controversy around using the term “Feminist
theology”. A number of
participants felt strongly that this was a necessary term in expressing
Women’s issues. Others expressed
equally strong feelings that this term was “taboo” in the light of feminist
movements in Europe that had given the term a negative connotation. Conclusively, when every participant had been heard, it was decided that
the term be kept but that it would be suitably qualified. Yes, attending the Conference, the Exposure
programmes and meeting the various Asian theologians and was
an enriching, eye-opener.
|
|
|
By: Sr. Christine Santhou
|
|
|
|
|
Footnotes:
[1]Salesian
Retreat House, Hua Hin, Prachuabkirikan, Thailand, (October 15 - 21, 2001).The Conference was attended by 8
Asian Bishops, 15 Religious Sisters and about 25 lay women theologians/
grassroot leaders.
[2]
Anyone who is interested in the Final Statement of BILA III on Women please
contact me.
|
|
