Navigating the Catholic Church in Belgium : Catholic women on female authority, reforms, and sexual difference

Despite being denied access to ordained positions of power, and limited to occupying lay positions, women numerically outnumber men in the Catholic Church in Belgium. Furthermore, their involvement in the Church mostly takes place in what can be considered gender stereotypical domains, such as education and care-providing services. This article explores how Catholic lay women navigate the Belgian Catholic Church and how they reconcile their religion-based aspirations to be involved in the Church, on one hand, and their lack of ordained authority, on the other. Based on empirical research (incl... Mehr ...