Young Catholics seek new ways to ‘do church’

First published by the University of Newcastle

By Gemma Wolk

During the 2021 lockdown, 25-year-old Maddy Forde would take an invigorating dip in the ocean and watch the glowing sunrise every morning. In an unprecedented period of isolation and uncertainty, it became her sacred place of peace and reflection. A daily ritual.

A youth minister for a prestigious Sydney university, her purpose of providing spiritual direction and creating community was being tested. After recently shifting her life from South Australia, she was eight months into a new role and university study, and still hadn’t met a single colleague or student face-to-face.

Like so many others, Maddy turned to nature to remain grounded.

“A lot of young people are finding their faith and spirituality in nature. Whether it's going to pray, meditate or have sacred time appreciating all that has been created,” Maddy says.

Searching for alternate ways to practise faith is a phenomenon gripping Catholicism. Annual census data continues to show fewer young people identifying as Catholic, and Maddy can attest to why.

“What I’m seeing is that there are so many ways to ‘do church’,” she explains.

“I think we're witnessing aspects of Catholicism in so many ways in secular society.

“What I’m seeing is that there are so many ways to ‘do church’"

“I think of people who complete ‘affirmations’ and how that’s a form of faith. I think of the incredible scenes that we witnessed with the Women's World Cup. Some of the things the Matildas team did – they had certain songs that they played before a game; they had certain handshakes that they did. To me, that’s ritual in community.

“A lot of my work has been with young people who have lost hope in the church as a physical place, but their spirituality and their faith is deep, profound, rich and full of passion to really, truly make a difference in this world.”

Young people are just one demographic redefining their faith. Published in March 2023, the International Survey of Catholic Women (ISCW) provided a first-of-its-kind insight into the perspectives of Catholic women globally, across all ages.

Comprising 17,200 responses from 104 countries, the ISCW is the largest international study of Catholic women in the church’s 2000-year history. With a structure steeped in traditional gender roles, the survey may be the first time many women have been able to contribute their standpoint.

"A lot of my work has been with young people who have lost hope in the church as a physical place, but their spirituality and their faith is deep..." - Maddy Forde

Mirroring Maddy’s interactions, the survey found the same discrepancy between women’s views on their faith vs their views on the church. Nearly 90 per cent of participants expressed that their Catholic faith was important to them, however 84 per cent supported church reform.

“It’s no secret that many women have experiences of church not being collaborative. People see their faith and the church as two very different things and are seeking somewhere they feel appreciated and valued and investing their time and their love is worthwhile,” Maddy explains.

“Historically and anthropologically, the church was where the centre of community was. But over time, and with addition of digital platforms creating community in a virtual space, a lot of people are finding that sense of belonging in different places.

“And I think that diversity is quite a beautiful thing.”

The ISCW was initiated by international organisation Catholic Women Speak in response to Pope Francis’ invitation for submissions to the 2021-2023 Synod of Bishops – a process welcoming feedback to examine how the church might reform.

Led by University of Newcastle academics Drs Kathleen McPhillips, Tracy McEwan and Miriam Pepper (pictured above), the ISCW generated an unparalleled dataset.

“It’s no secret that many women have experiences of church not being collaborative. People see their faith and the church as two very different things and are seeking somewhere they feel appreciated and valued and investing their time and their love is worthwhile.”

Open and closed questions asked respondents to share their views on identity, church reform and various issues impacting women, including women in church leadership and sexual abuse.

ISCW participant responses

“Historically, the Catholic church hasn’t been interested in studying its own population. The overwhelming response we had is a clear indicator of just how silenced Catholic women have felt,” Kathleen says.

“Catholicism is the largest religion in Australia. They make up 20 per cent of the population with women slightly more than half. The church is the country’s largest non-government provider of health care, education and welfare, and employs almost two per cent of the nation’s workers. It’s hugely important we examine such a colossal organisation.”

"The overwhelming response we had is a clear indicator of just how silenced Catholic women have felt" - Dr Kathleen McPhillips

Already proving a major contribution to our understanding, the ISCW results have made huge waves globally.

On International Women’s Day in March 2023, co-author Dr Tracy McEwan was invited to present the team’s findings at the Vatican and was able to hand a copy of the report to Pope Francis.

“The International Survey of Catholic Women global report has been well received by the Vatican and key decision-makers have taken note of the findings of our analysis,” Tracy says.

“But there is still work to be done.”

Unexpected insights into age group variations prompted the team to explore the curious expressions of conservatism amongst younger respondents .

“We found many of those aged over 70 strongly supported same sex marriage, and the homily being preached by women, whereas support numbers were much smaller in the 18 to 40 age group,” Tracy recalls.

“These findings are mirrored in both the global dataset and the more recent Australian analysis we released in September 2023.”

In response to the question ‘I support reform in the Catholic Church’, just 21 per cent of Australian respondents aged 18 to 40 strongly agreed, as opposed to 83 per cent of those aged over 70.

Conservatism in younger respondents was echoed in questions on LGBTQIA+ inclusion and freedom of conscience about sexual and reproductive decisions.

Several hypotheses have been posed by the research team.

“The contrast could be because older respondents are at a different life stage. They've experienced frustration, having worked for reform and seen resistance, so they're expressing a desire for reform more strongly,” Tracy says.

“Another possible reason is that the young women who completed the survey hold slightly more conservative standpoints than the Catholic population of young women as a whole.”

“We found many of those aged over 70 strongly supported same sex marriage, and the homily being preached by women, whereas support numbers were much smaller in the 18 to 40 age group.” - Dr Tracy McEwan

Maddy Forde agrees the answer lies in the representation of young people who responded to the survey.

The 18 to 24 year-old age group comprises 3.7 per cent of the overall global dataset, and 2.9 per cent of the Australian dataset.

“For a lot of young people, it's just easier not to be engaged and involved,” Maddy stresses.

“From what I’ve seen, they’re struggling with the tension of ‘Am I Catholic enough to be able to speak to this; Do I have the knowledge?; Do I have the experience to feel like I can add value here?’.

“They’re not finding their nourishment in the Catholic church and so they’ve moved away from it in the traditional sense. That’s why I think the survey resonated with young people holding more conservative values.”

A youth minister, delegate of the 2021 Plenary Council and Senior Adviser of Ministry at Catholic Education South Australia, Maddy has already accomplished so much in her 26 years. However, as a young, progressive woman holding such significant roles in the Catholic church, her encounters can sometimes prove challenging.

“I'm young, and I'm a woman. So therefore, there's a double tax – a subtraction on the whole value of me as a person because of those traits,” she explains.

“There’s always a temptation to sit, stay quiet and just ‘be happy’ that I’ve been given a seat at such significant tables. But I wouldn’t be true to myself, or the absent people who have entrusted me with their stories, if I did that.

“I’m here to represent people and amplify voices that aren’t always heard.”

“I'm young, and I'm a woman. So therefore, there's a double tax – a subtraction on the whole value of me as a person because of those traits.” - Maddy Forde

The gender division felt within the church boiled over in 2022 at an historic plenary council meeting held in Sydney that Maddy participated in. Bishops failed to pass two motions aimed at empowering women in the church. The public grief at the event initiated a silent protest including Maddy and 60 colleagues who stood together in grief until the motions were re-worded and passed the next day.

“I don't know where it came from, but we just didn't sit down. Because we couldn't sit down. There was no way that we could sit down and start another process. It didn't feel right,” she recalls.

The ISCW reports that almost eight in 10 women agreed that women should be fully included at all levels of church leadership, and more than three-quarters agreed that women should be able to give the homily, a commentary on the gospel during services. Two-thirds of respondents said women should be eligible for the priesthood.

“For me, it’s heartbreaking that we have women that want to be engaged and feel called to be engaged and are told no, or they're silenced. I think all women should be able to flourish as their whole selves,” she laments.

At the October 2021 plenary council general assembly, Maddy made the stirring comments:

“I look at the people who made me feel safe, welcomed and gave me that ability to encounter the goodness of the faith, who have now left the Church. I still see in them, the goodness, and the love they offer to others, and I still see God and the love of God, outside of the church walls.

“It breaks my heart that the goodness they introduced me to, they no longer feel for themselves. But I understand because I feel the same tension.

“I witness a church guarding tradition and choosing to ignore the pain they have caused, and still cause.”

“So, at that Plenary meeting, we had to look each other in the eyes, as distraught as we were, and understand why this was important and how hurt we were,” Maddy remembers.

“And I think being able to sit in that discomfort and truly meet people at the centre of their world is really where we're going to see a more loving, inclusive, and exciting place in the Catholic religion.”

Despite the challenges, Maddy finds strength in her work empowering those who are underrepresented and continues to have faith in the synod process.

“I’d be lying if I said I didn’t question what I’m doing at least once a week,” she smiles.

“But I want to use my privilege to lift the voices of others.

“I feel entrusted with so many beautiful stories of women. And it's important to me that all those voices are heard, and all those voices have a place at the table. That is what the core of Jesus’ messages were – sitting with people and listening to their stories.

“If I can help create a place of safety – and I think that's my job in this world – then that would leave me with no regrets.”

“I’d be lying if I said I didn’t question what I’m doing at least once a week.”

When asked about her own expressions of faith, Maddy has found the perfect term to define herself.

“I’m proud to say that I’m a ‘parish-hopper’,” Maddy chuckles.

“People might call it cherry-picking, but I find that what nourishes me is finding the best bits of different parishes – whether that be priests who deliver a homily I can relate to, or who I seek out for advice. Ultimately my faith comes from being with people.”

Echoing the research team's quest to amplify the voices of Catholic women, Maddy Forde agrees that the ISCW comes at a momentous time of change for the Church.

“Many of the women expressed a sense of hope that this Synod would bring about constructive reforms for women in the church, as the meeting addresses issues facing Catholics across the world,” Kathleen McPhillips explains.

“I think this survey is a really important representation of people speaking their truth. And it’s a really valuable thing that we have truth telling during this period of significant reformation,” Maddy adds.