Association of Roman Catholic Women Priests Responds to Ecclesiastical Bullying by Officials from Diocese of St. Augustine for Threat to Deny Sacraments to Catholic Couple Who Attended Woman Priest-Led Liturgy

Dear Rev. Timothy Lindenfelser, Bishop Felipe J. Estevez and Rev. John Phillips:

The Association of Roman Catholic Women Priests (ARCWP) is saddened by your recent letter threatening to deny sacraments to Tom and Gwen Umlauf, faithful Catholics, who attended a liturgy at which one of our priests, Dena O'Callaghan, presided. Your threat to use denial of the sacraments to Tom, Gwen and anyone who attends women-priest led liturgies is an example of ecclesiastical bullying that Catholics everywhere are challenging.

We note that your letter condemns Dena O’Callaghan but fails to mention her husband, John , a Roman Catholic priest who presides alternately with her at Catholic Masses in their local communities in Ocala and elsewhere.

Even, if you oppose the ordination of women as priests, it is unconscionable that you would single out a dedicated Catholic couple like Tom and Gwen Umlauf, and threaten to deny
access to the sacramental life of the Church for attending a liturgy celebrated by a woman priest.

Roman Catholic Women Priests are living prophetic obedience to God who calls us to lead
our church into a new era of gender justice rooted in Jesus’ example of Gospel equality and partnership. Even Vatican biblical scholars support our position. In 1976, the Pontifical Biblical Commission concluded that there is no evidence in Scripture that would prohibit women’s ordination in the Catholic Church. Sexism is a sin. The institutional church
cannot continue to discriminate against women and blame God for it.

The Association of Roman Catholic Women Priests (www.arcwp.org) is walking in the
footsteps of women like Saints Mother Theodore Guerin and Mary McKillop, both of whom were excommunicated by their bishops and canonized by Pope Benedict.

Primacy of Conscience takes priority over all laws. Therefore, Catholics, in all situations
must follow their consciences. We affirm Gwen and Tom for their love of the church and courageous act of prophetic obedience to the Spirit.

Like the prophets who spoke truth to power, we challenge this example of ecclesiastical
bullying as anti-Jesus and anti-Catholic.Your attempt to sever members of the
body of Christ, buth they know that nothing can separate us from the love of God in
Christ Jesus (Romans 3:35-39).

We call you, Rev. Timothy Lindenfelser, Bishop Felipe J. Estevez and Rev. John Phillips,
to walk in the footsteps of Jesus as our brothers and partners in ministry in a
renewed priestly ministry.

From: The  Leadership Circle of ARCWP:

Dena O'Callaghan, Dorothy Shugrue, Judy Lee, Bridget Mary Meehan
www.arcwp.org