Queer feminist theology despite concerns about "nihil obstat"

Interview with a spokesperson for the "Young Agenda"

Bonn – The "Agenda" network was founded to make female theologians more visible. As a subsidiary network, the "Young Agenda" is forging its own path. In an interview, its new spokesperson, Lia Alessandro, talks about concerns about "nihil obstat" and the question: Who is welcome?

Lia Alessandro is the new spokesperson for the "Young Agenda." For years, she has been part of the network, which emerged from the parent organization "Agenda." The network was founded in 1998 to raise the visibility of the academic work of female theologians. The Young Agenda sets its own goals. Not only women are welcome here – and not only those from the academic field either. In an interview with katholisch.de, Alessandro talks about what the Young Agenda stands for and also about the members' concerns about "nihil obstat."

Question: The Young Agenda was founded in 2019 from Agenda. Why does it need its own organization?

Alessandro: The founding intention was to network outside of professional hierarchies and to make FINTA* people more visible. We at the Young Agenda explicitly address people who are in the qualification and career entry phase and are not in leadership positions. However, that does not mean that the people in the Young Agenda cannot also be Agenda members.

Explanation of the term FINTA*

The term FINTA* is an acronym for women, intersex, non-binary, trans, and agender people, which includes other categories and self-images not mentioned above through the asterisk. The acronym FLINTA* is more well-known, including the abbreviation for lesbians. Katholisch.de uses the term chosen by the "Young Agenda" here without judging its accuracy.

Question: Does that mean that anyone who has made it to a professorship is out of the Young Agenda?

Alessandro: Exactly. It's also the case that we don't define ourselves solely through academic theology, but really want to address all FINTA* people who are active in theology, society, and the church. However, as soon as a person takes on leadership positions or has staff or even a professorship, they are no longer part of the Young Agenda.

Question: You have been elected as the new spokesperson for the Young Agenda. What tasks will you be responsible for now?

Alessandro: I am on the co-ordination team with three other people, and we share the tasks. My role as spokesperson, in particular, is to maintain contact with the Agenda board and represent the interests of the Young Agenda there.

Question: The Young Agenda sees itself not as a women's network, but as a FINTA* network. Is this broad terminology even relevant in the theological field? Is it reflected in the network?

Alessandro: We're increasingly sensing a need for such queer feminist approaches in our network. Of course, we don't ask everyone, "Hey, how do you identify now?" Instead, we're trying to create an offering. We want to make it clear that all these people are welcome.

Young Agenda members can also get involved in the "parent network" Agenda. Alessandro himself was here as an assessor on Agenda's board in 2023.

Question: Feminist theology has existed for a few decades, but Catholic theology has been largely a male domain for centuries. What does this mean for your network?

Alessandro: We always talk about feminist theologies, because here too, there is no uniformity, but rather a range of approaches. When Agenda was founded 25 years ago, the main focus was on "nihil obstat" and women in science. Statistically speaking, we also have more people in science who are perceived as female today. Nevertheless, processes of devaluation and mechanisms of oppression continue to take hold. So some topics are ongoing, others are changing. In addition, (queer) feminist theologies are now becoming increasingly visible.

Question: And what can you specifically achieve with the Young Agenda?

Alessandro: We can expose problem areas such as hierarchies and be a voice for change. We also have enough people in the Young Agenda who are engaged with queer feminist issues, both academically and personally, or who are also active activists. The Young Agenda offers a network in which all these voices can come together and show solidarity.

Question: What about the acceptance of people who do not belong to this more liberal spectrum?

Alessandro: Of course, we are a liberal network. But we don't prescribe polarization. All people who define themselves as theologians and who need support options and want to exchange ideas are welcome. We also want to foster the capacity for discourse. At the same time, we see the limit where statements that are contemptuous of humanity or violate human rights are made.

"I believe we also need this space in which we can first be. In which insecurities, injuries, and concerns can also be named."— Quote: Lia Alessandro

Question: You mentioned it yourself earlier: the "nihil obstat." Is this still an issue for the members of the Young Agenda today, especially if they are pursuing their own doctorates?

Alessandro: Yes, especially for those who work in academia and are massively affected by it. This means that the Young Agenda obviously also needs opportunities for participation and a say in this area. We are in constant communication with the Agenda board and are trying to bring about change together.

Question: And what exactly does that look like when you, as the Young Agenda, want to bring about change?

Alessandro: We in the coordination team are in constant communication about possible ideas and projects. This always happens in feedback from the 120 members of the Young Agenda. We meet regularly for digital get-togethers, where we exchange ideas, projects, and, above all, the things that concern us. In April, we had the Barcamp in Hohenheim. Several of us met there, the new coordination team was elected, and we are in close communication with the members there.

We also do a lot on social media and try to generate visibility. With our open letter to the KDFB chairperson, regarding, among other things, the "Influx Restriction Act," some of our members have also openly taken a stand.

At the "Barcamp," the members of the Young Agenda discuss project ideas and the network's goals. But there's also room here for personal concerns and theological exchange.

Question: So your network is largely characterized by media work, but what do you do directly for members? Is there help with study projects or similar?

Alessandro: Specifically, we try to open up project opportunities for members. For example, there was a conference in Vienna on the topic of physicality, anti-genderism, and anti-feminism, at which some of our members were able to present. This means we offer platforms for presenting your own projects.

But we also offer support opportunities beyond academia. We have some members who aren't even active in academia. Last year, for example, there was a coaching session on the topic of women in leadership positions. During this coordination period, we want to explicitly work on reaching out to people from practice.

Question: This means that you and the new coordination team will also add your own touch to the Young Agenda and launch your own projects?

Alessandro: I was part of the previous coordination team myself. So we don't see it as a clear cut. But we also want to tackle new projects and further promote international networking and interdisciplinary exchange. At the meeting in April, we also noticed that support services and exchange platforms are currently in very high demand.

Question: When you step down as spokesperson, what would you like to have achieved?

Alessandro: I hope to be able to promote the topics mentioned, such as internationalization. But without creating too much pressure. We always want to move forward in life, but I believe we also need this space where we can be ourselves first. Where insecurities, hurts, and concerns can be addressed. At the same time, we need spaces where content-based exchange and projects can emerge. And I would like to contribute to opening these spaces even further.

Source