Woman who dislikes being called Catholic promotes female ordination.

Katharina Jost Graf: "Equality is under attack – women's networks are increasingly needed again"

Parish chaplain Katharina Jost Graf recently became co-president of the Swiss Women's Federation, together with Pia Viel. She wouldn't have wanted to become president, even though she advocates for equality. "Even we theologians are not entirely immune to clericalism," she says.

You were previously vice president, and now you are co-president of the Swiss Women's Federation. How does this transition feel?

Katharina Jost Graf: It wasn't an abrupt change, but a continual one. Due to the illness-related absence of our managing director, we on the board had to be more involved. So, I moved from vice presidency to co-presidency almost organically. I'm making the transition with great joy, but also with the knowledge that this position is no picnic.

What experience can you contribute?

Jost: I bring experience from my many years of pastoral work. I have led many projects and groups and accompanied processes. I have served on the boards of the Women's Federation and other nonprofit organizations. I have experience in the church and theology. And I can contribute my creativity because I like to try new things.

"In Dagmersellen, I led the parish's 200th anniversary celebration with a huge festival."

Could you give some examples of your pastoral projects?

Jost: I am the parish chaplain in Dagmersellen and also the theological advisor to the women's community. For example, I led the parish's 200th anniversary celebration, a huge week-long festival. We dedicated the church's multifunctional interior. I also lead the parish and community integration group, with which we organize a huge, multicultural, unifying festival every two years.

"I take every person seriously and respect their uniqueness."

Does your work as a pastoral counselor shape your understanding of leadership?

Jost: Yes, of course. I take every person seriously and respect their uniqueness. I think it's important that every person—or, in the women's association, every woman—can contribute their own skills. All forms of participation are valuable.

What challenges do you expect in your new role?

Jost: One challenge is to demonstrate the relevance of women's networks. I am convinced that there is now an increased need for them. Because things we take for granted regarding equality are suddenly under attack again—also due to the current global political situation. The women's network is also a force that opposes individualism and the retreat into the small and private sphere.

"A challenging task is also to make our new name and slogan understandable in church circles."

A challenging task is also to make our new name and slogan, "Women's Federation of Switzerland – surprisingly different Catholic," and the motivations that led to it, understandable in church and wider circles. The process of changing the name went well within the women's association, and a great deal of power emerged. Now it's about harnessing this momentum.

Our political engagement also continues. In the near future, we will be addressing egg donation. We are also involved in the Family Time Initiative and the Corporate Initiative.

"It's not good for a theologian to be the sole president of the women's association."

Could you also have imagined a sole presidium?

Jost: No, I am firmly convinced: It's not good for a theologian to be the sole president of the women's association. The Women's Association is an organization in which many women are involved who are not church professionals. Furthermore, we theologians are not entirely immune to clericalism either—due to our own disposition, but also due to the reverence with which certain people approach us. After a few conversations, I was able to open myself up to the co-presidency. I realized: This is true for the women of the Women's Association.

You are responsible for church affairs, aren't you?

Jost: Pia Viel and I had to split up the co-presidency. On the board, we have a working group for social policy and a working group for church policy. Since Pia comes from politics and I from church work, the division was logical. However, we won't be sharply separating the areas.

What are you definitely keen to tackle?

Jost: Nothing new is currently planned. But we will continue to advocate for equality in the Church and for synodality. In this regard, I am working with the Alliance Equally Worthy Catholic. The Women's Federation is one of the Alliance's supporting organizations, whose office is located at the Swiss Women's Federation in Lucerne. For example, we have the project "Private is Private" running. There, we are fighting to ensure that private circumstances should not play a role in church employment.

"As it is currently structured, I do not want to exercise the role of priest."

What do you say about women's priesthood?

Jost: This much: If women's priesthood were introduced tomorrow, I would say: As it is currently structured, I do not want to exercise this role. I think it is better to first make the Church more synodal, bring more women into decision-making positions, and rethink the priesthood. Of course, I am for equality and I am fighting for it. But for me, women's priesthood is just the tip of the iceberg. There's a lot more to come before that. There are tentative approaches – for example, with the synodal process worldwide and in Switzerland. But a lot of change still needs to happen.

"Had an assault occurred back then, it would have had massive consequences for me as the parish leader."

What do you say about abuse in the church?

Jost: That's simply terrible. I was the first woman to hold the position of parish leader in the canton of Basel-Landschaft, and I recently realized that the topic of abuse resonated deeply with me at the time. One of the abusers recently reported on by the SRF "Rundschau," a Benedictine priest from Maristein, was a regular substitute priest with us. I don't think anything happened under my parish leadership, because he was never alone with people during these assignments. But had an assault occurred, it would have had massive consequences for me as the parish leader. This thought bothered me a lot.

Do you feel any consequences from the abuse scandal a year and a half ago?

Jost: I find it terrible how much trust the abuse cases have destroyed. Now, in the course of prevention, we must adhere to behaviors that are pastorally challenging and require a great deal of sensitivity. Every time I consider touching appropriate, I consider whether it might seem intrusive. A lot is happening in prevention, but we're not very far along in cultural change and especially in structural change, which would also include a rethinking of the clerical power imbalance.

"I was practically instilled in the women's association with my mother's milk."

How and when did you become involved with the women's association?

Jost: I was practically instilled in the women's association with my mother's milk. My mother and grandmother were both active in women's groups in Baden and Wettingen. I saw how they got involved in childcare services or at bazaars. As a girl, I was always there and loved the events. Later, as the leader of the Blauring (Blue Ring), I was involved with the women's association. And at my first pastoral position in Baselland, I organized events with the women's community, such as meditative dancing in the church. In 2000, I moved to Dagmersellen and became a mother. That same year, I joined the board of the Lucerne Women's Federation as a theological advisor, where I remained until 2019. Immediately afterward, I was elected to the board of the Swiss Catholic Women's Federation and became vice president in 2020. Since 2005, I have also been active on the board of the Dagmersellen Women's Community as a theological advisor.

You mentioned the Alliance Equally Worthy Catholic and are active in its steering group. Did you also participate in the founding of the Alliance?

Jost: Yes. The Women's Association originally planned to create its own position on women's church policy. However, we realized that discrimination in the church affects not only women, but also men who do not want to live a celibate life. At the time, we were part of the predecessor organization, the Alliance "It's enough!", and we wanted to reposition ourselves with the participating organizations. Simone Curau-Aepli and I were instrumental in the restructuring and reorganization of the Alliance.

"I consider equal dignity and equal rights to be crucial for the credibility of the Church."

Why are you so involved in this?

Jost: I consider equal dignity and equal rights to be crucial for the credibility of the Church. I wear two hats in the Alliance: firstly, as a representative of the Swiss Women's Association, and secondly, as a parish chaplain who is very interested in these issues.

Source

And then will complain about being ignored!  Catholic survives in the tagline but they are clearly ashamed of the name.  No one will die for a tagline afterthought.