Kathleen, beg to differ that there is any braver here. The RCC is a top down structure.  You might consider that the root problem is patriarchy in decision making, whether this small group or the larger composite of elderly males & all the males that control everything.
Women need to have parity in decision making in whatever group.
Currently, 17 US male senators are determine the future of women's health care!  Where is the outrage from women?  Women have a long way to go before taken seriously.  And the males of the RCC & Republican party know it.