Peter was not a priest, bishop or pope/ Photos of Pink Smoke Rising Up for Justice in Sarasota, Fl.

You would never know from the media's coverage of the conclave that the cardinals are not rock stars. The coverage of this Conclave has been superficial. 
 I have not seen  interviews with Catholic feminists or women priests . You would think it is all about the clothes, the black or white smoke etc. How about the meltdown of the global sexual abuse cover-up and the mafia-like money laundering charges, how about the Vati-leaks about the Curia's prostitution ring?
So often the media do not do their homework.
Jesus did not give infallible powers to the pope.
We know that Matthew 18, :18, Jesus gave the keys not to Peter alone but to the followers as a body.
As Gary Wills, concludes in his book, What Jesus Meant on p. 81, "From this Augustine concluded that Peter is just " a representative of the church"- and in fact the community as a whole had the power to include or exclude members in the early gatherings....While Peter is clearly the leading member of the Twelve, ...he, like all other apostles or disciples is not a priest-much less a bishop. There were no bishops in his lifetime and none in Rome till the second century as the letters of Ignatius of Antioch prove. ...Peter calls himself just one of the elders- not a priest, nor the first of elders. 1 Peter 5:1 The Catholic scholar Raymond Brown concluded, "Peter never served as the bishop or local administrator of any church, Antioch and Rome included." (p. 80 What Jesus Meant, Gary Will)

Today, in nine cities, faithful Catholics who are living an inclusive model of church prayed for a pope who would open the doors of the church to women as equals and partners in ministry.

In Rome and in Sarasota, Florida, we gathered to pray and share our dreams for Gospel equality.

Here are some photos. Enjoy! Feel free to share with others. Bridget Mary Meehan, ARCWP, sofiabmm@aol.com, www.arcwp.org