Two Catholic women with opposing views explain why they are for or against changing the image of women in the Catholic Church.

In the Catholic Church, the ordained ministries of deacon, priest, and bishop are traditionally reserved for men. This rule is based on church teachings and traditions that have existed for centuries. The Bible often describes women in roles as mothers and wives, which further shapes the traditional image of women in the Church.

The documentary film THE SAME, BUT DIFFERENT — THE ROLE OF WOMEN IN THE CATHOLIC CHURCH by Eva-Maria Schauer sheds light on this issue by following two Catholic women who have different perspectives on the role of women in the Church. One of them is Marieluise Gallinat-Schneider, a parish worker from Bruchsal, who is shown in her everyday working life. Her counterpart is the significantly younger and more conservative Luisa-Maria Papadopoulos, who stands up for preserving traditions and is a member of the conservative initiative “Maria 1.0.” The film examines the extent to which existing gender roles in the Church are still appropriate today and what arguments speak for or against change. It also looks at whether there is hope for a rethink in terms of canon law.

The production was made in October 2024 at the Film Academy Baden-Württemberg. In addition to directing, Eva-Maria Schauer also took on the editing and the role of reporter.