Cherie Blair om kvinnliga katolska ledare

Cherie Blair var nyligen inbjuden till en konferens på Angelicum (påvligt universitet i Rom) - då passade hon på att tala om det skriande behovet av kvinnor i ledande positioner. Artikeln tar även upp hennes syn på familjelanering m.m.

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"Blair said after there had been a large increase in the number of women holding seats in the British Parliament, greater attention and more government action were aimed at problems in education, child care and sexual violence against women.

Having more women in higher levels of the church would likewise result in "different priorities gaining the platform and that would be better for everyone," she said.

Also, Blair said, no one should underestimate the value of role models and high-profile public figures in inspiring and instilling confidence in young girls and women.

"With a little bit of imagination," the Vatican could try to fill half its curial posts with women and make "a huge change in the public face of the church," she said.


Blair's call was echoed by another conference speaker, Norwegian professor Janne Haaland Matlary, who is a member of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace and a consultant to the Pontifical Council for the Family and who has served on several Vatican delegations at international conferences.

"The enormous female talent of the church," she said, should be used much more.

Many key positions within the Vatican do not require priestly ordination and could be filled by qualified women, she said.

Matlary also praised the kind and respectful treatment she said she has received throughout her years working with the church and the Vatican.

Catholic clergy "have a natural appreciation of motherhood," she said, which made it easier for her to put her family's needs first when working with the Vatican.

The church also appreciates intelligence, so whenever she discusses issues with clergy, she said, "I've always felt they are interested in what's in here -- in my brain."

While Matlary said she believed an increase in the number of women being appointed to Vatican posts will be a gradual, "evolutionary thing, it should also be pushed a bit.""

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