<p>April 26 2023. DignityUSA celebrates the Vaticans announcement that 70 lay people will be voting members of the global Synod process ending the centuries-long exclusion of Catholic laity from helping to shape key aspects of church governance and direction.</p><p>The global Synod is an effort to engage the universal church in addressing what Catholicism looks like as we move into a rapidly changing world said Marianne Duddy-Burke DignityUSA Executive Director. Having lay peoplepeople who represent the vast majority of Catholicsactually voting on key Synod documents is a long-awaited recognition that lay people must have a voice in major decisions within our church. Getting to this point is the result of decades of advocacy among many Catholic individuals and groups who have pressed for greater accountability from Church leaders and for a redefinition of authority within our church.</p><p>We need to be clear: todays announcement does not mean equality has been achieved said Duddy-Burke. The reality is that 80% of Synod votes will still be cast by the all-male cadre of bishops. But giving lay people voting rights is an unprecedented step and has opened a window that cannot easily be closed. This is a moment to pause to celebrate and then to figure out what the next step can be.</p><p>The 70 voting representatives will be chosen from among 140 people nominated by the continental regional groups comprised of bishops from major areas of the world. Duddy-Burke noted that ensuring that representing the diversity of Catholics will be a challenge.</p><p>Because it is bishops making these nominations we need to keep pressing church officials to ensure that traditionally marginalized people are represented among the voting laity. Of course we urge that openly LGBTQ+ people be among the voting delegates. DignityUSA and other progressive Catholic groups have issued a letter calling on the US and Canadian bishops to promote the voices of women LGBTQIA+ persons Black and Indigenous Catholics young Catholics divorced and remarried Catholics victims of clergy sexual abuse people with disabilities and those who have sought or received abortion care said Duddy-Burke.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><i>DignityUSA is the worlds oldest organization of Catholics working for justice equality and full inclusion of LGBTQIA+ people in our church and society. Founded in 1969 it has members and supporters across the U.S.</i></p>