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| Artist Robert Klonoski |
Sometimes the Holy Spirit leaves little surprises in the most unexpected places!
Today, Mary Al Gagnon, a member of our Mary Mother of Jesus Inclusive Catholic Community in Florida, found a wonderful gem on the website of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops: a podcast reflection by Franciscan priest Rev. Greg Friedman, OFM, with a message I certainly did not expect to hear.
https://bible.usccb.org/podcasts/video/2026-09-06-reflection-127
Rev. Greg suggested something quite radical: the Church should treat the excommunicated as Jesus treated those whom religious authorities pushed to the margins—not as people to be kept outside the gates, but as people who belong within the embrace of relationship and love. After all, Jesus had a delightful habit of turning outsiders into insiders. Tax collectors and sinners didn’t just get a friendly wave from Jesus—they got a seat at the table and became part of his inner circle!
Tax collectors? Come on in.
In Luke 19:1–10, Jesus does not lecture Zacchaeus about his job. He invites himself to dinner!
Sinners? Pull up a chair.
Luke tells us that the religious authorities complained about Jesus: “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them” (Luke 15:2).
Imagine that—a religious leader getting into trouble because his table was too inclusive!
And then I thought: Rev. Greg, you forgot the women!
Oh yes, definitely the women.
Luke 8:1–3 tells us that Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Susanna, and other women traveled with Jesus and supported his ministry. Women were disciples, supporters, friends, proclaimers, and leaders in the emerging Jesus movement.
And when everything seemed lost after the crucifixion, it was Mary Magdalene whom the Risen Christ commissioned to proclaim the central message of Christianity:Christ is risen!
A woman was entrusted with Christianity’s first Easter proclamation.
Apparently, Jesus was not very interested in preserving patriarchal boundaries—or waiting for permission to call women into leadership.
Thank God!
So Rev. Greg Friedman’s reflection raises a question close to my heart—and one I hope Pope Leo might consider:
If the Church is called to treat the excommunicated as Jesus treated those pushed to the margins, isn’t it time to lift the excommunications imposed on women who followed their consciences and God’s call to ordained ministry?
In 2008, the Vatican declared that women who attempt ordination—and those who ordain them—incur automatic excommunication.
Yet something rather surprising happened.
We did not go away.
We kept loving the Church.
We kept celebrating Eucharist.
We kept baptizing, marrying, anointing, preaching, accompanying the dying, standing with people on the margins, and building inclusive Catholic communities where everyone is welcome at the table.
Could this be a Gospel moment for the Church to do the same?
Lift the excommunications.
Welcome women priests and all who have been pushed to the margins.
Open the doors. Widen the table. Pull up more chairs.
Be a Church for All!
And then, Pope Leo, sit down with us. Listen to the stories of women who have risked much to follow God’s call to ordained ministry. Hear about the inclusive Catholic communities we serve and our deep love for the Church we have never left.
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| (Members of Mary Mother of Jesus Inclusive Catholic Community in Sarasota gather for a delicious brunch on September 6, 2026. from left to right front row: Cathy, back row Michael in orange in back, Jeanne in black, |
Cheryl and Jim, Paul in back row; in front, row: Joan, in blue, Lee in black, Elena in white, Bridget Mary, Dotty with dog Sofie, Mary Al behind Dotty, Paul behind Mary Al. We are a "church without borders," with members in Florida, Illinois, Missouri, California, New York, and Ireland. Each week, our MMOJ community gathers across the miles for liturgy on Zoom at 4:00 PM ET. Jesus’ open table works pretty well at our open Zoom celebration of Eucharist too! Elena, Dotty, Michael Lee and I are priests in our MMOJ community. So is Kathryn Shea who was not with us today]
We are not outsiders knocking at the door.
We are part of this beloved and sometimes wonderfully messy Catholic family.
We are Church.
Perhaps reconciliation begins simply: not with another decree, but with a conversation, a listening heart, and a willingness to recognize the Spirit moving in unexpected places.
Pope Leo, trust the Holy Spirit.
She has always had a wonderful way of opening doors we humans are tempted to keep closed.
And yes, she has been known to get ahead of the hierarchy!
Thank God!—Rev. Dr. Bridget Mary Meehan, ARCWP