Why do we need to apologise? 

As people become more conscious of the fact that discrimination is always an injustice the movement for recognition of equality grows stronger. Excluding people on the grounds of ethnic group, skin colour, sexual preference, gender, etc., is always wrong.

Jesus declared the fundamental and equal value of every person. The consequence of this principle is that equal opportunity is the right of everyone.

 The early church communities had women leaders, and Paul will declare, only 20 years after the death of Jesus: “There are no more distinctions between Jew and Greek, slave and free, male and female, but all of you are one in Christ Jesus.” Galatians 3:28.

Over centuries however sharp divisions have become entrenched in the church between the hierarchy and the faithful, between the clergy and the laity, between men and women in such a way that opportunity is a privilege of some, not a right for all.

The outstanding example is seen in this that women have no voice in the leadership of the church community as a whole.

It is to confront this issue of justice that the Second Vatican Council declared: “All the faithful, both clerical and lay, should be accorded a lawful freedom of inquiry, freedom of thought and freedom of expression.” Gaudium et Spes, No. 62, a resolve expressed as law in Canon No. 212 § 3 of the Code.

 It is well known that, following the traumatic experience of World War II, the United Nations formulated its Universal Declaration of Human Rights in these words: “Everyone is entitled to all the rights and freedoms set forth in this Declaration, without distinction of any kind, such as race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status…” (Article 2: United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights)

This entitlement is based on simple justice, the most fundamental ground for human relationships.

Any discrimination based on such distinctions is an injustice contrary to the fundamental dignity of the human person, injuring therefore not only those who suffer under it but also those who impose it.

Many types of discrimination seem to be beyond remedy.They are built into the structure of society or of particular groups.