Roman Catholic Womenpriests : Panel Discussion by Women-Church Convergence Leaders on Vatican Apostolic Vistation of U.S Religious Orders

Panel discussion by Women Leaders in the Roman Catholic Church
in response to Vatican Apostolic Visitation of Religious Orders in the U.S.




Sister Louise Akers, a Sister of Charity of Cincinnati, said that
"women's ordination is a justice issue."



Diann Neu, Co-Director of Women's Alliance for Theology, Ethics and Ritual
addressed participants.

Women-Church Convergence Panel Discussion on Apostolic Visitation of U.S. Religious Orders
By Janice Sevre-Duszynska, RCWP
The apostolic visitation of U.S. religious orders was discussed on Saturday afternoon, Sept. 12th in Cincinnati by a panel of members of Women-Church Convergence who met for a weekend gathering which was open to the public. The panel was introduced by Carolyn Farrell of the Sisters of the Blessed Virgin Mary from Dubuque, Iowa.
Louise Akers, a sister of Charity of Cincinnati, spoke first. She was recently told by Archbishop Pilarczyk of Cincinnati that because of her support for women's ordination she could no longer teach in any Catholic institution in the Archdiocese. In her power point presentation she quoted writers and activists who are working to transform a world dominated by a paradigm of masculine power and control to one of dignity and equality for everyone. "We must especially work on God language," she said, "to make it inclusive."

Said Akers: "Women's ordination IS a justice issue. Its basis is the value, dignity and equality of woman person. I believe this in my very core. To publicly state otherwise would be a lie and against my conscience."

Donna Quinn, a Dominican Sinsinawa from Chicago is being investigated for escorting women to a women's reproductive clinic. "My role is to be a peacekeeper from car to clinic," she said, "and to provide a safe passage for women." She compared the Vatican's attempt to control women to a tent held down with four stakes: The ordination of women; inclusive language; reproductive choice; and women's right to vote -- within the church.

Beth Rindler, a Franciscan Sister of the Poor. talked about her journey working with the poor, overcoming fear, earning her M.Div., as well as her experiences doing pastoral ministry in parishes with and without male priests. "I had problems with priests in the parishes," she said, "because I told the media 'as it is.' We are the church. We are the archdiocese. Not too many priests wanted somebody with an M.Div. They started closing churches rather than let women be ordained."

Diane Neu, co-founder of Women's Alliance for Theology, Ethics and Ritual (WATER) thanked the panelists for breaking silence, for being faithful and for being church as well as for standing with women and supporting gay and lesbian issues. "We of Women-Church Convergence send you greetings of solidarity and respect. You are the public witness of the Spirit of God with us, with courage and calm in the midst of this oppression." She identified the vast amount of good accomplished by religious orders in the United States. "You are Ecumenical women who created a Catholic school system, established hospitals, cared for and spoke out for poor immigrants, embodied and taught a rich spirituality and respect for ecology, you opposed nuclear weapons, war and torture...Who else is church if you aren't."

Neu said that after the clergy abuse of children and the episcopal cover up, the Vatican's Apostolic Visitation of women is an "indictment of all U.S. Catholics who strive to live out a discipleship of equals..."

The panel discussion was followed by questions from participants. Later, everyone participated in a dialogue naming characteristics of various generations, led by Kate Childs Graham. The afternoon session closed with liturgy led by Ruth Steinert Foote, a feminist spiritual leader, Janice Marie Mappin, a local woman Orthodox Catholic priest, and Janice Sevre-Duszynska of Lexington, Kentucky who is an ordained Roman Catholic Womanpriest.

September 21, 2009
For Immediate Release Contacts: Susan Farrell 908-753-4636
Donna Quinn 708-974-4220
Carolyn Kellogg 415-847-2076

Women's Coalition Connects The Apostolic Visitation of U.S. Women Religious to the Vatican's Oppression of All Women

Cincinnati: Women-Church Convergence, a Catholic-rooted Coalition of 27 groups of women begun in 1983 met with 80 interested women and men on September 12, 2009 to discuss the issue of the recent Apostolic
Visitation and how this oppresses all women..
A Panel of four presented their insights on this topic:
Louise Akers a member of the Sisters of Charity of Cincinnati,
Donna Quinn Co-Ordinator of the National Coalition of American Nuns,
Beth Rindler a member of the Franciscan Sisters of the Poor and
Diann Neu Co-Ordinator of Women's Alliance for Theology, Ethics and
Ritual (WATER)
The theme of the Day was presented by Louise in a quote of Catherine of Siena - a Saint and Doctor of the Church who lived in the fourteenth century:
"Cry as if you have a million voices, it is silence that kills the world."
Louise Akers continued her story with Archbishop Daniel Pilarczyk of Cincinnati who has banned her from any teaching activity in the Archdiocese due to her support of women's ordination in the Roman Catholic Church. She will not in conscience change her position on this issue..
Donna Quinn spoke of the four issues used against women by Vatican
Church but which can also be used by women to create a Church for Our
Daughters..These four are Ordination of Women, Inclusive Language in spoken and written word, Women's Reproductive Health Issues and Women's Right to Vote in the Church..
After Beth Rindler told her story of persecution by the Church in Detroit Diann Neu lifted up and thanked Women Religious for their courageous stands against the continued gender discrimination by Vatican Church.
The overflowing room of participants left this discussion with new insights and a resolve never to give up, continuing to lift up our voices against the violence of gender discrimination and to create a Church which welcomes all people equally..