I wrote this article on the historic occcasion of the Vatican excommunications. The New Catholic Times published the article and added stunning graphis. Enjoy!!
Way to go New Catholic Times!!
Bridget Mary
Living Gospel Inclusivity and Empowerment Now- https://bridgetmarys.blogspot.com/2025/10/rev-dr-bridget-mary-meehan-arcwp-chat.html
Saturday, October 25, 2008
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
Report of Women's Ordination's Conference's on Successes at Vatican Synod
St. Praxedis Church in Rome ( Mosaic of Episcopa (bishop)Theodora on the far left, standing next to St. Praxedis, who was pastor of this house church 800 years earlier, Mary, Mother of Jesus, and Pudentiana)
Advocates of women's ordination share educational materials on women office holders in the early Church.
(Pictures used with permission of Women's Ordination Conference)
Dear WOC Members and Supporters,
We have returned to Washington, DC after an incredibly successful campaign in Rome during the Synod of Bishops. I am thrilled to share with you photos from our campaign, as well as an update on all of our actions in Rome.
During the week, we held a press conference and demonstration, hosted an educational forum on women office holders in early Christianity, and toured archaeological sites of significance. WOC's actions garnered worldwide attention, not the least from the Italian police, who followed and detained us each time we held an event in St. Peter's Square. They even seized our passports, which they returned after recording our names and passport information. Despite this harassment, WOC witnessed for women's ordination and accomplished the following:
Generated international media coverage of the women's ordination movement in more than 100 media outlets around the world, including Associated Press, International Herald Tribune, Univision, and the major press agencies in Germany and Italy. News of our campaign reached Austria, Canada, New Zealand, Australia, Nicaragua, the U.K., Vatican City and more (see below for details).
Distributed over 1,000 stickers and over 600 fliers to visitors in St. Peter's Square, including many priests and women religious.
Raised public awareness around Rome and in Vatican City, by carrying our banner and by wearing "Ordain Women" t-shirts in nine languages.
Educated Catholics about the archaeological sites depicting women's leadership in early Christianity by arranging a slide show presentation and organizing a tour of the sites.
Throughout the week, we and our coalition partners became well-known in Vatican City. We were highly visible, holding a banner stating "Ordain Catholic Women," wearing our purple stoles, and sporting "Ordain Women" buttons and t-shirts in English, French, Gaelic, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, and Spanish. All along our route, we handed out fliers in six languages citing the reasons to ordain women. Hundreds of women and men smiled and nodded to us, and we educated many about WOC and the need for women's ordination.
Our conversations with Roman Catholics from around the world reinforced what we knew all along - that a majority of Catholics the world over support women's ordination. We engaged in noteworthy dialogue with three young seminarians, who by the end of our conversation, agreed that women's ordination should at the very least be open for discussion.
In addition to the demonstrations in the public square, we hosted an educational forum on women's leadership as priests, deacons and bishops in early Christianity with the kind and generous help of a coalition partner, and toured both the catacombs of Priscilla and the Basilica of St. Praxedes (check out pictures in our gallery).
After our tour, we stopped by the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore, where Cardinal Bernard Law serves as archpriest. A pre-Vatican II Mass in Latin was in session, and we decided to participate. With the cardinal's back to the people and separated by a chain gate, Erin and I put on our purple stoles and "Ordain Women" buttons and stepped up for communion. We drew a few interested stares, but received Eucharist without incident.
Regrettably, we did have an incident back at the apartment where we were staying. In the middle of the night, burglars broke into the apartment and stole our laptops, camera, iPod, cellular phone, and cash. We are blessed that no one was injured - we did not awaken during the break-in. While this burglary was upsetting and inconvenient, it was not enough to stop our work. We carried out all of our campaign activities as planned.
WOC's campaign succeeded beyond our expectations, and our presence reverberated throughout the streets of Rome. On our final day in St. Peter's Square handing out literature on women's ordination, Erin and I were detained one final time. When we told the Italian police officer that we were headed back to the U.S. the following day, he shouted, "Thanks be to God!" We took it as a compliment. Our hard work had paid off, as the Vatican had taken notice of our campaign.
Thank you for supporting us during our campaign in Rome. This could not have happened without the support of members and allies of the Women's Ordination Conference like you. A few weeks ago, many of you received a letter asking you to renew your membership with WOC. Many of you have responded, and we thank you so much! Your membership contributions and gifts throughout the year keep our work going. If you have not yet made a contribution, please consider making a donation today so that we can continue our campaigns.
Thank you for your prayers and support! You made this trip possible, and we hope you enjoy the pictures and campaign updates.
In peace and struggle,
Aisha S. Taylor, Executive Director
We have returned to Washington, DC after an incredibly successful campaign in Rome during the Synod of Bishops. I am thrilled to share with you photos from our campaign, as well as an update on all of our actions in Rome.
During the week, we held a press conference and demonstration, hosted an educational forum on women office holders in early Christianity, and toured archaeological sites of significance. WOC's actions garnered worldwide attention, not the least from the Italian police, who followed and detained us each time we held an event in St. Peter's Square. They even seized our passports, which they returned after recording our names and passport information. Despite this harassment, WOC witnessed for women's ordination and accomplished the following:
Generated international media coverage of the women's ordination movement in more than 100 media outlets around the world, including Associated Press, International Herald Tribune, Univision, and the major press agencies in Germany and Italy. News of our campaign reached Austria, Canada, New Zealand, Australia, Nicaragua, the U.K., Vatican City and more (see below for details).
Distributed over 1,000 stickers and over 600 fliers to visitors in St. Peter's Square, including many priests and women religious.
Raised public awareness around Rome and in Vatican City, by carrying our banner and by wearing "Ordain Women" t-shirts in nine languages.
Educated Catholics about the archaeological sites depicting women's leadership in early Christianity by arranging a slide show presentation and organizing a tour of the sites.
Throughout the week, we and our coalition partners became well-known in Vatican City. We were highly visible, holding a banner stating "Ordain Catholic Women," wearing our purple stoles, and sporting "Ordain Women" buttons and t-shirts in English, French, Gaelic, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, and Spanish. All along our route, we handed out fliers in six languages citing the reasons to ordain women. Hundreds of women and men smiled and nodded to us, and we educated many about WOC and the need for women's ordination.
Our conversations with Roman Catholics from around the world reinforced what we knew all along - that a majority of Catholics the world over support women's ordination. We engaged in noteworthy dialogue with three young seminarians, who by the end of our conversation, agreed that women's ordination should at the very least be open for discussion.
In addition to the demonstrations in the public square, we hosted an educational forum on women's leadership as priests, deacons and bishops in early Christianity with the kind and generous help of a coalition partner, and toured both the catacombs of Priscilla and the Basilica of St. Praxedes (check out pictures in our gallery).
After our tour, we stopped by the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore, where Cardinal Bernard Law serves as archpriest. A pre-Vatican II Mass in Latin was in session, and we decided to participate. With the cardinal's back to the people and separated by a chain gate, Erin and I put on our purple stoles and "Ordain Women" buttons and stepped up for communion. We drew a few interested stares, but received Eucharist without incident.
Regrettably, we did have an incident back at the apartment where we were staying. In the middle of the night, burglars broke into the apartment and stole our laptops, camera, iPod, cellular phone, and cash. We are blessed that no one was injured - we did not awaken during the break-in. While this burglary was upsetting and inconvenient, it was not enough to stop our work. We carried out all of our campaign activities as planned.
WOC's campaign succeeded beyond our expectations, and our presence reverberated throughout the streets of Rome. On our final day in St. Peter's Square handing out literature on women's ordination, Erin and I were detained one final time. When we told the Italian police officer that we were headed back to the U.S. the following day, he shouted, "Thanks be to God!" We took it as a compliment. Our hard work had paid off, as the Vatican had taken notice of our campaign.
Thank you for supporting us during our campaign in Rome. This could not have happened without the support of members and allies of the Women's Ordination Conference like you. A few weeks ago, many of you received a letter asking you to renew your membership with WOC. Many of you have responded, and we thank you so much! Your membership contributions and gifts throughout the year keep our work going. If you have not yet made a contribution, please consider making a donation today so that we can continue our campaigns.
Thank you for your prayers and support! You made this trip possible, and we hope you enjoy the pictures and campaign updates.
In peace and struggle,
Aisha S. Taylor, Executive Director
Monday, October 20, 2008
Catholic Feminist Coalition Denounces Vatican Intrusion on Conscience
For Immediate Release Contacts:
Susan Farrell 908-753-4636
saf48@verizon.net
Mary E. Hunt 301-589-2509
mhunt@hers.com
Donna Quinn 708-974-4220
dquinn4220@aol.com
Chicago-
Catholic Feminist Coalition Denounces Vatican's Intrusion on Conscience
At its annual meeting in Chicago October 10-12, 2008, Women-Church Convergence denounced all threats to and violations of conscience perpetuated by leaders of the Roman Catholic Church. The Convergence affirmed the right of all Catholics to act in the areas of faith and morals on the basis of a well-informed conscience.
Several examples scandalized us of late:
1. Louise Lears was removed from the pastoral team of St. Cronan's Parish by Archbishop Raymond L. Burke of St. Louis, Missouri, for her support of the ordination of Roman Catholic Womenpriests. He placed her under interdict, prohibiting her from the reception of the sacraments in that diocese. This is direct retribution for an act of conscience.
2. Roy Bourgeois received a canonical warning and was asked to explain to his Maryknoll Community the facts of his participation in an ordination sponsored by Roman Catholic Women Priests. A report of the order's investigation was sent to the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. This contradicts freedom of conscience.
3. During this election season, several politicians have been threatened with excommunication by bishops who disagree with their principled stances on controversial issues. These are attempts to politicize a Catholic's right in conscience to receive the Eucharist.
Women-Church Convergence urges all Catholics to resist the hierarchy's intrusions on conscience. Women-Church creates and supports communities in which conscience is respected. The Convergence is made up of representatives of twenty-six Catholic-rooted feminist groups and organizations.
A Coalition of twenty-six Catholic-rooted, feminist organizations and groups affirmed the fact that they strongly encourage all Catholics to vote according to their consciences and not dictate in the upcoming November elections. Peace, justice, and opposition to war are the hallmarks of Catholic social teaching. We urge all Catholics to embrace this widely accepted agenda, not any single issue, and vote accordingly.
Women-Church Convergence unanimously approved of this at their recent annual meeting held in Chicago on October 10-12, 2008.
Susan Farrell 908-753-4636
saf48@verizon.net
Mary E. Hunt 301-589-2509
mhunt@hers.com
Donna Quinn 708-974-4220
dquinn4220@aol.com
Chicago-
Catholic Feminist Coalition Denounces Vatican's Intrusion on Conscience
At its annual meeting in Chicago October 10-12, 2008, Women-Church Convergence denounced all threats to and violations of conscience perpetuated by leaders of the Roman Catholic Church. The Convergence affirmed the right of all Catholics to act in the areas of faith and morals on the basis of a well-informed conscience.
Several examples scandalized us of late:
1. Louise Lears was removed from the pastoral team of St. Cronan's Parish by Archbishop Raymond L. Burke of St. Louis, Missouri, for her support of the ordination of Roman Catholic Womenpriests. He placed her under interdict, prohibiting her from the reception of the sacraments in that diocese. This is direct retribution for an act of conscience.
2. Roy Bourgeois received a canonical warning and was asked to explain to his Maryknoll Community the facts of his participation in an ordination sponsored by Roman Catholic Women Priests. A report of the order's investigation was sent to the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. This contradicts freedom of conscience.
3. During this election season, several politicians have been threatened with excommunication by bishops who disagree with their principled stances on controversial issues. These are attempts to politicize a Catholic's right in conscience to receive the Eucharist.
Women-Church Convergence urges all Catholics to resist the hierarchy's intrusions on conscience. Women-Church creates and supports communities in which conscience is respected. The Convergence is made up of representatives of twenty-six Catholic-rooted feminist groups and organizations.
A Coalition of twenty-six Catholic-rooted, feminist organizations and groups affirmed the fact that they strongly encourage all Catholics to vote according to their consciences and not dictate in the upcoming November elections. Peace, justice, and opposition to war are the hallmarks of Catholic social teaching. We urge all Catholics to embrace this widely accepted agenda, not any single issue, and vote accordingly.
Women-Church Convergence unanimously approved of this at their recent annual meeting held in Chicago on October 10-12, 2008.
Friday, October 17, 2008
Press Releases from Roman Catholic Womenpriests, Catholic Representatives from aound world call for Women's Ordination during Bishop's Synod in Rome
(picture from Women's Ordination Conference, Used with permission)PRESS RELEASE
Contacts: Ree Hudson 636-933-0387 or 636-208-5598
Bridget Mary Meehan, RCWP Media Spokesperson USA 703-283-2929
Roman Catholic Womenpriests are honored to participate in the “Shadow Synod” which is being held in Rome in October 2008, at the same time as the Vatican Synod of Bishops on the Bible. Ree Hudson, a Roman Catholic womanpriest from St. Louis, is representing the Roman Catholic Womenpriests USA. Although a few women have been invited to participate as experts, decision-making at this Synod will once again be limited to male clerics. “In contrast, Roman Catholic Womenpriests are offering the church a renewed model of priestly ministry, rooted in the New Testament,” Bridget Mary Meehan, media spokesperson, said. “Jesus, who treated women and men as equals and partners, offered an example of Gospel equality that led to the practice of ordaining women as deacons, priests and bishops in the early church. The good news is now there are Roman Catholic Womenpriests serving the Roman Catholic Church in grassroots communities in the U.S., Canada and Europe.” Jesus chose the Samaritan woman to announce the good news to her entire village, and the Samaritans accepted Jesus as Messiah because of her testimony. Mary of Magdala, the first witness to the resurrection, was commissioned by Jesus to be the apostle to the apostles (John 20:1-18).
The Pontifical Biblical Commission echoed the sentiments of Jesus in concluding there is no biblical reason to prohibit women’s ordination. Women and men are created in God’s image, and both may represent God as priests. “In the image of God, God created humankind, male and female, God created them” (Genesis 1:26-27). Following a two-year study of scripture, the Pontifical Biblical Commission, in 1976, agreed by a vote of 12-5 that neither the Bible nor Christ excluded the ordination of women. The vote in favor of women’s ordination was 14-3.
Although the Roman Catholic leadership has been all male for the past 900 years, Christianity’s first millennium saw numerous women serving with distinction as deacons, priests and bishops. Roman Catholic Womenpriests are reclaiming our ancient heritage and shaping a more inclusive Christ-centered church of equals in the twenty-first century. Womenbishops, ordained in full apostolic succession, continue to carry on the work of ordaining others in the Roman Catholic Church. We are living a new model of priestly ministry united with the people with whom we serve. Ordained women are serving the people of God in many ways, including house churches and parish communities, celebrations of weddings and baptisms, hospital and hospice chaplaincy, prison ministry, anointing of the sick and elderly, ministering with homeless people, peace and justice witness, and spiritual direction.
Our movement is receiving enthusiastic responses on the local, national and international level. Following Maryknoll Father Roy Bourgeois’ participation in the ordination of a Roman Catholic womanpriest in Lexington, Kentucky, on August 9, 2008, the Maryknoll Community has called for a worldwide dialogue on the issue of justice for women in the church, including the ordination of women as priests.
Roman Catholic Womenpriests stand in solidarity with our biblical sisters who reflect the feminine face of God. Womenpriests remind us that women are equal images of the holy. Twenty-five women share their stories of call to priestly ministry in our new book, Women Find a Way: The Movement and Stories of Roman Catholic Womenpriests. The call for full equality of women in the church is the voice of God in our time.
Roman Catholic Womenpriests will join the Women’s Ordination Conference (WOC) and Women’s Ordination Worldwide (WOW), the international coalition that advocates women’s ordination, beginning on the feast day of Saint Teresa of Avila, October 15, in Rome. There will be a press conference that day, followed by four days of actions and events.
Oct. 15: Press Conference on the feast day of Saint Teresa of Avila;
Oct. 16 & 17: Demonstrations at the Vatican;
Oct. 18: Tour of women’s leadership sites in Rome;
Oct. 19: Evening Feminist Liturgy and educational social event with other church reform groups.
For further information: http://www.romancatholicwomenpriests.org/
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: October 15, 2008
Media Inquiries:
Aisha Taylor, U.S. office: +1 202 675-1006, Rome cell phone from October 14-20: +39-348-4705361, ataylor@womensordination.org
Christian Weisner, cell phone: +49-172-5184082, media@we-are-church.org
Catholic Representatives from around the world call for women’s ordination during Bishop's Synod in Rome
Women's Ministry: a reality in the early Church – indispensable in today's Church!
ROME, Italy – Today, at 11:00 o’clock in the office of redazione di ADISTA, Via Acciaioli 7, 00186 Roma, representatives of Catholic organizations from around the world call for the full and equal participation of women in the Roman Catholic Church, including ordination as deacons, priests and bishops. The press conference takes place on the feast of St. Teresa of Avila, one of only three female Doctors of the Church, and will launch a weeklong campaign of events, including a demonstration at Saint Peter’s Square immediately following. These events occur as 240 delegates continue the Synod of Bishops on the “Word of God in the Life and Mission of the Church.” Representatives from Britain, Germany, Japan, the Netherlands, Portugal and the United States are participating in the campaign events.
“Just as Saint Theresa of Avila demanded over 400 years ago for the hierarchy to stop rejecting talented women simply because of their gender, we urge the delegates of the synod to recognize that the Bible itself calls for the full and equal participation of women and that any other interpretation is incorrect and unjust,” stated Angelika Fromm of We are Church and the Purple Stole Movement in Germany. “In 1976, the Vatican’s own theologians – and theologians the world over since that date – have found that there is no scriptural reason to prohibit the ordination of women.”
“By including women as priests, the Church would not only model Jesus’ radical example of equality as recorded in the Bible, it would have a powerful and positive impact on solving the complex problems we face today,” stated Aisha Taylor, executive director of the Women’s Ordination Conference in the United States. “In a world divided by poverty, stunned by economic crisis, and continually reeling from sexism, racism, homophobia, and many forms of oppression, it is long overdue for the Vatican to use all of its resources to work toward a solution.”
“While I agree with synod delegates who have stated the importance of combining spirituality with critical scholarship when studying the Scriptures, it is paramount that Church leaders preserve the historical-critical method of study,” stated Marleen Wijdeveld of Roman Catholic Womenpriests in the Netherlands. “Following the highest standards of contemporary scholarship has enabled theologians the world over to discern women’s rightful place in the Church—as equal partners in ministry. In this day and age of the Roman Catholic Church, that means women should be ordained as deacons, priests and bishops.”
“I am called by God to serve through priesthood, and our loving and all-powerful God who created women and men of equal stature and dignity is capable of empowering women to be priests,” stated Anne Brown, of New Wine in Great Britain. “There is no reason to exclude women from ordination and every reason to include us.”
“We are heartened by the fact that the bishops were addressed by Shear Yashuv Cohen, of Israel, because this is the first time a representative of another faith has addressed a synod of bishops,” stated Jennifer Stark, coordinator of Women’s Ordination Worldwide. “The hierarchy needs to expand its interfaith and ecumenical work and follow the example of those Christian Churches and other religions that now include women on terms of full equality in all ministries. This issue has implications for the well-being of women everywhere and the worldwide Roman Catholic Church should be leading the way, not lagging behind.”
The Pontifical Biblical Commission determined in 1976 that there is no scriptural reason to prohibit the ordination of women. The Bible describes how women were prominent leaders in Jesus’ ministry and early Christianity. In all four gospels, Mary Magdalene was the primary witness to the central event of Christianity—Christ’s resurrection. The Scriptures also mention women who led small house churches, including Lydia, Phoebe, Priscilla, and Prisca.
"It is our hope that the synod delegates heed the call of Catholic theologians and Scripture itself, which proclaims women are equally created in the image of God (Gen. 1:27), and that there is no distinction between men and women through Jesus (Gal 3:28)," Taylor concluded.
After the press conference and demonstration at 17:00 hours Catholic women’s ordination activists gather outside the church S. Maria in Transpontina (Via della Conciliazione) for a public prayer service. Immediately afterward, the representatives will deliver a petition, signed by 1,571 Catholic organizations and individuals, urging Pope Benedict XVI to reinstate women in the diaconate.
###
The “Purple Stole” Movement (“Lila Stola”) intercedes for equal access of women to all church functions, for an equal mentioning of women and men in church publications, for a female image of God and a female liturgy.
Roman Catholic Womenpriests (RCWP) is an international initiative within the Roman Catholic Church that advocates for a new model of priestly ministry united with the people with whom they serve. The movement is an initiative within the Church that began with the ordination of seven women on the Danube River in 2002. Women bishops ordained in full apostolic succession continue to carry on the work of ordaining others in the Roman Catholic Church.
Founded in 1975 and based in Washington, D.C., the Women's Ordination Conference is the oldest and largest national organization working solely for the ordination of women as priests, deacons, and bishops into an inclusive Catholic Church. WOC also promotes new perspectives on ordination that call for more accountability and less separation between the clergy and laity.
Founded in 1996, the Women's Ordination Worldwide is an ecumenical network, whose primary mission at this time is the admission of Roman Catholic women to all ordained ministries. Member groups represent thirteen countries and reach many others through international groups.
Contacts: Ree Hudson 636-933-0387 or 636-208-5598
Bridget Mary Meehan, RCWP Media Spokesperson USA 703-283-2929
Roman Catholic Womenpriests are honored to participate in the “Shadow Synod” which is being held in Rome in October 2008, at the same time as the Vatican Synod of Bishops on the Bible. Ree Hudson, a Roman Catholic womanpriest from St. Louis, is representing the Roman Catholic Womenpriests USA. Although a few women have been invited to participate as experts, decision-making at this Synod will once again be limited to male clerics. “In contrast, Roman Catholic Womenpriests are offering the church a renewed model of priestly ministry, rooted in the New Testament,” Bridget Mary Meehan, media spokesperson, said. “Jesus, who treated women and men as equals and partners, offered an example of Gospel equality that led to the practice of ordaining women as deacons, priests and bishops in the early church. The good news is now there are Roman Catholic Womenpriests serving the Roman Catholic Church in grassroots communities in the U.S., Canada and Europe.” Jesus chose the Samaritan woman to announce the good news to her entire village, and the Samaritans accepted Jesus as Messiah because of her testimony. Mary of Magdala, the first witness to the resurrection, was commissioned by Jesus to be the apostle to the apostles (John 20:1-18).
The Pontifical Biblical Commission echoed the sentiments of Jesus in concluding there is no biblical reason to prohibit women’s ordination. Women and men are created in God’s image, and both may represent God as priests. “In the image of God, God created humankind, male and female, God created them” (Genesis 1:26-27). Following a two-year study of scripture, the Pontifical Biblical Commission, in 1976, agreed by a vote of 12-5 that neither the Bible nor Christ excluded the ordination of women. The vote in favor of women’s ordination was 14-3.
Although the Roman Catholic leadership has been all male for the past 900 years, Christianity’s first millennium saw numerous women serving with distinction as deacons, priests and bishops. Roman Catholic Womenpriests are reclaiming our ancient heritage and shaping a more inclusive Christ-centered church of equals in the twenty-first century. Womenbishops, ordained in full apostolic succession, continue to carry on the work of ordaining others in the Roman Catholic Church. We are living a new model of priestly ministry united with the people with whom we serve. Ordained women are serving the people of God in many ways, including house churches and parish communities, celebrations of weddings and baptisms, hospital and hospice chaplaincy, prison ministry, anointing of the sick and elderly, ministering with homeless people, peace and justice witness, and spiritual direction.
Our movement is receiving enthusiastic responses on the local, national and international level. Following Maryknoll Father Roy Bourgeois’ participation in the ordination of a Roman Catholic womanpriest in Lexington, Kentucky, on August 9, 2008, the Maryknoll Community has called for a worldwide dialogue on the issue of justice for women in the church, including the ordination of women as priests.
Roman Catholic Womenpriests stand in solidarity with our biblical sisters who reflect the feminine face of God. Womenpriests remind us that women are equal images of the holy. Twenty-five women share their stories of call to priestly ministry in our new book, Women Find a Way: The Movement and Stories of Roman Catholic Womenpriests. The call for full equality of women in the church is the voice of God in our time.
Roman Catholic Womenpriests will join the Women’s Ordination Conference (WOC) and Women’s Ordination Worldwide (WOW), the international coalition that advocates women’s ordination, beginning on the feast day of Saint Teresa of Avila, October 15, in Rome. There will be a press conference that day, followed by four days of actions and events.
Oct. 15: Press Conference on the feast day of Saint Teresa of Avila;
Oct. 16 & 17: Demonstrations at the Vatican;
Oct. 18: Tour of women’s leadership sites in Rome;
Oct. 19: Evening Feminist Liturgy and educational social event with other church reform groups.
For further information: http://www.romancatholicwomenpriests.org/
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: October 15, 2008
Media Inquiries:
Aisha Taylor, U.S. office: +1 202 675-1006, Rome cell phone from October 14-20: +39-348-4705361, ataylor@womensordination.org
Christian Weisner, cell phone: +49-172-5184082, media@we-are-church.org
Catholic Representatives from around the world call for women’s ordination during Bishop's Synod in Rome
Women's Ministry: a reality in the early Church – indispensable in today's Church!
ROME, Italy – Today, at 11:00 o’clock in the office of redazione di ADISTA, Via Acciaioli 7, 00186 Roma, representatives of Catholic organizations from around the world call for the full and equal participation of women in the Roman Catholic Church, including ordination as deacons, priests and bishops. The press conference takes place on the feast of St. Teresa of Avila, one of only three female Doctors of the Church, and will launch a weeklong campaign of events, including a demonstration at Saint Peter’s Square immediately following. These events occur as 240 delegates continue the Synod of Bishops on the “Word of God in the Life and Mission of the Church.” Representatives from Britain, Germany, Japan, the Netherlands, Portugal and the United States are participating in the campaign events.
“Just as Saint Theresa of Avila demanded over 400 years ago for the hierarchy to stop rejecting talented women simply because of their gender, we urge the delegates of the synod to recognize that the Bible itself calls for the full and equal participation of women and that any other interpretation is incorrect and unjust,” stated Angelika Fromm of We are Church and the Purple Stole Movement in Germany. “In 1976, the Vatican’s own theologians – and theologians the world over since that date – have found that there is no scriptural reason to prohibit the ordination of women.”
“By including women as priests, the Church would not only model Jesus’ radical example of equality as recorded in the Bible, it would have a powerful and positive impact on solving the complex problems we face today,” stated Aisha Taylor, executive director of the Women’s Ordination Conference in the United States. “In a world divided by poverty, stunned by economic crisis, and continually reeling from sexism, racism, homophobia, and many forms of oppression, it is long overdue for the Vatican to use all of its resources to work toward a solution.”
“While I agree with synod delegates who have stated the importance of combining spirituality with critical scholarship when studying the Scriptures, it is paramount that Church leaders preserve the historical-critical method of study,” stated Marleen Wijdeveld of Roman Catholic Womenpriests in the Netherlands. “Following the highest standards of contemporary scholarship has enabled theologians the world over to discern women’s rightful place in the Church—as equal partners in ministry. In this day and age of the Roman Catholic Church, that means women should be ordained as deacons, priests and bishops.”
“I am called by God to serve through priesthood, and our loving and all-powerful God who created women and men of equal stature and dignity is capable of empowering women to be priests,” stated Anne Brown, of New Wine in Great Britain. “There is no reason to exclude women from ordination and every reason to include us.”
“We are heartened by the fact that the bishops were addressed by Shear Yashuv Cohen, of Israel, because this is the first time a representative of another faith has addressed a synod of bishops,” stated Jennifer Stark, coordinator of Women’s Ordination Worldwide. “The hierarchy needs to expand its interfaith and ecumenical work and follow the example of those Christian Churches and other religions that now include women on terms of full equality in all ministries. This issue has implications for the well-being of women everywhere and the worldwide Roman Catholic Church should be leading the way, not lagging behind.”
The Pontifical Biblical Commission determined in 1976 that there is no scriptural reason to prohibit the ordination of women. The Bible describes how women were prominent leaders in Jesus’ ministry and early Christianity. In all four gospels, Mary Magdalene was the primary witness to the central event of Christianity—Christ’s resurrection. The Scriptures also mention women who led small house churches, including Lydia, Phoebe, Priscilla, and Prisca.
"It is our hope that the synod delegates heed the call of Catholic theologians and Scripture itself, which proclaims women are equally created in the image of God (Gen. 1:27), and that there is no distinction between men and women through Jesus (Gal 3:28)," Taylor concluded.
After the press conference and demonstration at 17:00 hours Catholic women’s ordination activists gather outside the church S. Maria in Transpontina (Via della Conciliazione) for a public prayer service. Immediately afterward, the representatives will deliver a petition, signed by 1,571 Catholic organizations and individuals, urging Pope Benedict XVI to reinstate women in the diaconate.
###
The “Purple Stole” Movement (“Lila Stola”) intercedes for equal access of women to all church functions, for an equal mentioning of women and men in church publications, for a female image of God and a female liturgy.
Roman Catholic Womenpriests (RCWP) is an international initiative within the Roman Catholic Church that advocates for a new model of priestly ministry united with the people with whom they serve. The movement is an initiative within the Church that began with the ordination of seven women on the Danube River in 2002. Women bishops ordained in full apostolic succession continue to carry on the work of ordaining others in the Roman Catholic Church.
Founded in 1975 and based in Washington, D.C., the Women's Ordination Conference is the oldest and largest national organization working solely for the ordination of women as priests, deacons, and bishops into an inclusive Catholic Church. WOC also promotes new perspectives on ordination that call for more accountability and less separation between the clergy and laity.
Founded in 1996, the Women's Ordination Worldwide is an ecumenical network, whose primary mission at this time is the admission of Roman Catholic women to all ordained ministries. Member groups represent thirteen countries and reach many others through international groups.
Thursday, October 16, 2008
Vatican and Italian Police Stop and Seize Passports of Roman Catholic Womenpriests Advocates and Activists
Ree Goes to the Vatican (fifth person in vestments/red stole)
ROME, Italy - Yesterday, at 6:00 o'clock, the Italian police stopped representatives of Catholic organizations from around the world as they walked into St. Peter's Square to deliver a petition calling for the restoration of women's ordination to the diaconate. The group was holding a banner saying "Ordain Catholic Women" and handing out educational materials. A total of thirteen members of the Italian and Vatican police gathered to question the eleven representatives. After taking their materials, the Italian police demanded their passports and called the Vatican police, who sent their chief. According to a member of the Italian police, this was the first time in 15 years the chief came to question demonstrators. He did not allow them to deliver the petition to the Portone di Bronzo but said he would deliver it to the pope himself. Earlier in the day, the group brought the same banner and materials into the Square without getting stopped by the police. The representatives are in Rome during the Synod of Bishops on the Bible, calling for the full and equal participation of women in the Roman Catholic Church, including ordination as deacons, priests and bishops.
"Our peaceful action did not merit the extreme reaction of the police-sending the chief down to interrogate us while seizing our passports," stated Aisha Taylor, executive director of the Women's Ordination Conference. "However, I was not surprised. Time and again, when it comes to women's role in the Church, the Vatican overreacts and demonstrates just how fearful they are about the growing support for women's ordination. "
The Pontifical Biblical Commission determined in 1976 that there is no scriptural reason to prohibit the ordination of women. The Bible describes how women were prominent leaders in Jesus' ministry and early Christianity. In all four gospels, Mary Magdalene was the primary witness to the central event of Christianity-Christ's resurrection. The Scriptures also mention women who led small house churches, including Lydia, Phoebe, Priscilla, and Prisca.
The representatives are from Britain, Germany, Japan, the Netherlands, Portugal and the United States. They represent the millions of Catholics from around the world who support women's ordination.
###
Founded in 1975 and based in Washington, D.C., the Women's Ordination Conference is the oldest and largest national organization working solely for the ordination of women as priests, deacons, and bishops into an inclusive Catholic Church. WOC also promotes new perspectives on ordination that call for more accountability and less separation between the clergy and laity.
(Pictures are used with permission of Women's Ordination Conference)
Italian and Vatican Police Confront Women Outside St. Peter's in Rome Congratulations to the Worldwide Coalition, Speaking Truth to Power for Justice for Women in the Roman Catholic Church!
Italian, Vatican police stop and apprehend passports of Catholic representatives delivering petition
ROME, Italy - Yesterday, at 6:00 o'clock, the Italian police stopped representatives of Catholic organizations from around the world as they walked into St. Peter's Square to deliver a petition calling for the restoration of women's ordination to the diaconate. The group was holding a banner saying "Ordain Catholic Women" and handing out educational materials. A total of thirteen members of the Italian and Vatican police gathered to question the eleven representatives. After taking their materials, the Italian police demanded their passports and called the Vatican police, who sent their chief. According to a member of the Italian police, this was the first time in 15 years the chief came to question demonstrators. He did not allow them to deliver the petition to the Portone di Bronzo but said he would deliver it to the pope himself. Earlier in the day, the group brought the same banner and materials into the Square without getting stopped by the police. The representatives are in Rome during the Synod of Bishops on the Bible, calling for the full and equal participation of women in the Roman Catholic Church, including ordination as deacons, priests and bishops.
"Our peaceful action did not merit the extreme reaction of the police-sending the chief down to interrogate us while seizing our passports," stated Aisha Taylor, executive director of the Women's Ordination Conference. "However, I was not surprised. Time and again, when it comes to women's role in the Church, the Vatican overreacts and demonstrates just how fearful they are about the growing support for women's ordination. "
The Pontifical Biblical Commission determined in 1976 that there is no scriptural reason to prohibit the ordination of women. The Bible describes how women were prominent leaders in Jesus' ministry and early Christianity. In all four gospels, Mary Magdalene was the primary witness to the central event of Christianity-Christ's resurrection. The Scriptures also mention women who led small house churches, including Lydia, Phoebe, Priscilla, and Prisca.
The representatives are from Britain, Germany, Japan, the Netherlands, Portugal and the United States. They represent the millions of Catholics from around the world who support women's ordination.
###
Founded in 1975 and based in Washington, D.C., the Women's Ordination Conference is the oldest and largest national organization working solely for the ordination of women as priests, deacons, and bishops into an inclusive Catholic Church. WOC also promotes new perspectives on ordination that call for more accountability and less separation between the clergy and laity.
By ALESSANDRA RIZZO Associated Press Writer ROME (AP) - "Catholic women seeking to become priests denounced the church's ban on female ordination as sexist and unjust, bringing their campaign close to the Vatican on Wednesday during a worldwide gathering of bishops." "...In March, the archbishop of St. Louis excommunicated three women _ two Americans and a South African _ for participating in a woman's ordination. They were part of the Roman Catholic Womenpriests movement, which began in 2002." Commentary: It is time for the Roman Catholic Church to cross the Tiber and affirm womenpriests Several hours ago, I received a call from an Associated Press Reporter in the United States in response to this article which is now both on mainstream print, tv and internet sites. All it takes is a few courageous people to change the world!! (evidence of the Spirit's movement in the church) Roman Catholic Womenpriests are building a bridge across the chasm of patriarchy to help God's people cross over from the hierarchial model of church to an open, participatory, Christ-centered, Spirit-empowered, partnership community of equals-- a model of church that resembles the Gospel equality of Jesus and the early church community tradition. As the women advocates of a renewed priestly ministry crossed the Tiber, so Roman Catholics around the world cross a new threshold from sexism rooted in discrimination to equality and justice for women in the church. It is about time that women take the rightful place as partners and equals in our beloved church. In the reports from Vatican Synod on the Word of God, I have not heard much about the example of women as leaders in early church. Have the church fathers or the few women experts even raised the topic of the role of women like Mary of Magdala, the apostle to the apostles or deacon Phoebe, or the apostle Junia as examples for all Christians including Roman Catholics of prophetic, visionary, holy women disciples? How about the women who presided at the house church eucharists? Women, like Mary Ellen Robinson, and (many other Roman Catholic Womenpriests) are following Jesus example of partnershp and community building. We have come full circle back to house churches. I think Jesus would feel right at home in our welcoming, inclusive communities.
Let's hope that the Vatican will follow the example of Jesus who chose women and men to be his disciples. It is time for the hierarchy to cross the symbolic "Tiber" from the Vatican's policies of discrimination and exclusion on a bridge from sexism to full equality for women in the Roman Catholic Church Bridget Mary Meehan Roman Catholic Womanpriest
Let's hope that the Vatican will follow the example of Jesus who chose women and men to be his disciples. It is time for the hierarchy to cross the symbolic "Tiber" from the Vatican's policies of discrimination and exclusion on a bridge from sexism to full equality for women in the Roman Catholic Church Bridget Mary Meehan Roman Catholic Womanpriest
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
Catholic Women March in Rome for Female Priesthood
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(picture of liturgy led by Mary Ellen Robertson in Michigan)http://www.wtopnews.com/?nid=383&sid=1497678
By ALESSANDRA RIZZO Associated Press Writer
ROME (AP) - "Catholic women seeking to become priests denounced the church's ban on female ordination as sexist and unjust, bringing their campaign close to the Vatican on Wednesday during a worldwide gathering of bishops."
"...In March, the archbishop of St. Louis excommunicated three women _ two Americans and a South African _ for participating in a woman's ordination. They were part of the Roman Catholic Womenpriests movement, which began in 2002."
Commentary: It is time for the Roman Catholic Church to cross the Tiber and affirm womenpriests
Several hours ago, I received a call from an Associated Press Reporter in the United States in response to this article which is now both on mainstream print, tv and internet sites. All it takes is a few courageous people to change the world!! (evidence of the Spirit's movement in the church)
Roman Catholic Womenpriests are building a bridge across the chasm of patriarchy to help God's people cross over from the hierarchial model of church to an open, participatory, Christ-centered, Spirit-empowered, partnership community of equals-- a model of church that resembles the Gospel equality of Jesus and the early church community tradition.
As the women advocates of a renewed priestly ministry crossed the Tiber, so Roman Catholics around the world cross a new threshold from sexism rooted in discrimination to equality and justice for women in the church. It is about time that women take the rightful place as partners and equals in our beloved church.
In the reports from Vatican Synod on the Word of God, I have not heard much about the example of women as leaders in early church. Have the church fathers or the few women experts even raised the topic of the role of women like Mary of Magdala, the apostle to the apostles or deacon Phoebe, or the apostle Junia as examples for all Christians including Roman Catholics of prophetic, visionary, holy women disciples? How about the women who presided at the house church eucharists? Women, like Mary Ellen Robinson, and (many other Roman Catholic Womenpriests) are following Jesus example of partnershp and community building. We have come full circle back to house churches. I think Jesus would feel right at home in our welcoming, inclusive communities.
Let's hope that the Vatican will follow the example of Jesus who chose women and men to be his disciples. It is time for the hierarchy to cross the symbolic "Tiber" from the Vatican's policies of discrimination and exclusion on a bridge from sexism to full equality for women in the Roman Catholic Church
Bridget Mary Meehan
Roman Catholic Womanpriest
Monday, October 13, 2008
Roman Catholic Womenpriests:Southern region page is now up
All are welcome to attend our liturgies:
Mary, Mother of Jesus, House ChurchSarasota, Florida 34237Liturgies 6:00 pm on Sat. (Dec.-April)Contact: Bridget Mary Meehan at sofiabmm@aol.com703-283-2929 (cell)
Mary, Mother of Jesus, House ChurchSarasota, Florida 34237Liturgies 6:00 pm on Sat. (Dec.-April)Contact: Bridget Mary Meehan at sofiabmm@aol.com703-283-2929 (cell)
Mary, Mother of Jesus, House ChurchFalls Church, VA. 22041Liturgies 6:00pm on Sat. (May-Nov.)Contact: Bridget Mary Meehan at sofiabmm@aol.com703-283-2929 (cell)
Judy Lee Church in the Park Ministry to the Homeless on Friday evenings in Ft. Myers area, FloridaContact: judyabl@embarqmail.com
Janice Sevre-Duszynska,Lexington, KentuckyContact Janice at: rhythmsofthedance@msn.com
Eleonora MarinaroPort Richey, FloridaContact Eleonora at: elly@helpwithdreams.com
Sunday, October 12, 2008
Bread Rising; Needed from Pope Benedict Prophetic Action
In Bread Rising, a newsletter by Terry Dosh, there are several rich nuggets of spiritual insight:
In 2003, Catherine Nerney wrote in " Communities define Christian living":
" A spirituality of communion defined the way early Christians lived the
In 2003, Catherine Nerney wrote in " Communities define Christian living":
" A spirituality of communion defined the way early Christians lived the
gospel. "She cites that the Gospels and Pauline letters are vivid " handbooks for community" and that in the Pauline understanding "God's Trinitarian communion unfolds in communiites that live in God for the sake of others."
One of my favorite quotes in the newsletter is by Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger in 1962:
"The meaning of prophecy is the protest against the self-righteousness of the institutions. God thoughout history, has not been on the side of the institutions but on the side of the suffering and the persecuted."
Now is the time for Pope Benedict to apply this grace-filled insight to the Roman Catholic Church he now leads. As a Roman Catholic Womanpriest, who serves the marginalized in the church, I raise the issue of the second class citizenship of women in the contemporary church. The institutional church is on the wrong side of history again. The movement toward the full equality of women in church and society is the voice of God in our time. The institutional church needs to abandon laws that discriminate and/or increase women's sufferings and repent of its self-righteousness, and embrace all whom it persecutes as God's beloved ones. May the light of the Holy Spirit dawn once again, on Pope Benedict in a New Pentecost of prophetic action and community building.
Bridget Mary Meehan, rcwp
Pittsburgh, 2006
One of my favorite quotes in the newsletter is by Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger in 1962:
"The meaning of prophecy is the protest against the self-righteousness of the institutions. God thoughout history, has not been on the side of the institutions but on the side of the suffering and the persecuted."
Now is the time for Pope Benedict to apply this grace-filled insight to the Roman Catholic Church he now leads. As a Roman Catholic Womanpriest, who serves the marginalized in the church, I raise the issue of the second class citizenship of women in the contemporary church. The institutional church is on the wrong side of history again. The movement toward the full equality of women in church and society is the voice of God in our time. The institutional church needs to abandon laws that discriminate and/or increase women's sufferings and repent of its self-righteousness, and embrace all whom it persecutes as God's beloved ones. May the light of the Holy Spirit dawn once again, on Pope Benedict in a New Pentecost of prophetic action and community building.
Bridget Mary Meehan, rcwp
Pittsburgh, 2006
Tuesday, October 7, 2008
Roman Catholic Womenpriests: Article in Sojourners about Janice Sevre-Duszynska's Ordination
"Injustice is not Categorical"
by Kaitlin Barker
Near the Vatican in October 2001, Janice Sevre-Duszynska and fellow advocates hung a banner calling in seven different languages for the ordination of women. Almost seven years later, the fruit of that action and many others like it was realized. Janice’s long-awaited and hard-fought ordination Mass took place Aug. 9, 2008, in Lexington, Kentucky.
“We are well-trained daughters of the church,” she says of women pursuing the priesthood. “Jesus called us to a discipleship of equals. Women priests are a matter of justice.”
http://www.sojo.net/blog/godspolitics/?p=2708
“We are well-trained daughters of the church,” she says of women pursuing the priesthood. “Jesus called us to a discipleship of equals. Women priests are a matter of justice.”
http://www.sojo.net/blog/godspolitics/?p=2708
Monday, October 6, 2008
Roman Catholic Womenpriests will be represented at Vatican Shadow Synod with RC church renewal groups in Rome
(Ree Hudson on left, Bridget Mary Meehan in center, Elsie McGrath on right)
Press Release
Roman Catholic Womenpriests/USA offer renewed priestly ministry at Shadow Synod in Rome
Contacts: Ree Hudson 636 933-0387, 636.208.5598 (Cell)
Bridget Mary Meehan: RCWP Media spokesperson USA 703-283-2929
For more information http://www.romancatholicwomenpriests.org/
Roman Catholic Womenpriests are honored to participate in the “Shadow Synod” which will be held in Rome in October, 2008 at the same time as the Vatican Synod of Bishops on the Bible. Ree Hudson, a Roman Catholic Womanpriest from St. Louis will represent the Roman Catholic Womenpriests USA. Although a few women have been invited to participate as experts, decision-making at this Synod will once again be limited to male clerics. In contrast, Roman Catholic Womenpriests are offering the church a renewed model of priestly ministry rooted in the New Testament.Jesus offered an example of Gospel equality that led to the practice of ordaining women as deacons, priests and bishops in the early church. Jesus treated women and men as equals and partners. Jesus chose the Samaritan woman to announce the good news to her entire village, and the Samaritans accepted Jesus as Messiah because of her testimony. Mary of Magdala, the first witness to the resurrection, was commissioned by Jesus to be the apostle to the apostles (John 20:1-18).
In 1976, the Pontifical Biblical Commission echoed the sentiments of Jesus in concluding there is no biblical reason to prohibit women's ordination. Women and men are created in God's image and both may represent Christ as priests. "In the image of God, God created humankind, male and female God created them" (Genesis 1:26-27). In 1976, the Pontifical Biblical Commission on women priests concluded after a two year study of scripture that by a vote of 12-5 that neither the bible nor Christ excluded the ordination of women. The vote in favor of ordaining women was 14-3.
Although the Roman Catholic leadership has been all-male for the past 900 years, Christianity's first millennium saw numerous women serving with distinction as deacons, priests and bishops. Roman Catholic Womenpriests are reclaiming our ancient heritage.and shaping a more inclusive, Christ-centered church of equals in the twenty-first century. Womenbishops ordained in full apostolic succession continue to carry on the work of ordaining others in the Roman Catholic Church. We are living a new model of priestly ministry united with the people with whom we serve. Ordained women are serving the people of God in many ways including house churches and parish communities, celebrations of weddings and baptisms, hospital and hospice chaplaincy, prison ministry, anointing of the sick and elderly, ministering with homeless people, peace and justice witness and spiritual direction.
Our movement is receiving enthusiastic responses on the local, national and international level. Following Fr. Roy Bourgeois participation in the ordination of a Roman Catholic Womanpriest in Lexington Kentucky on Aug. 9, 2008, the Maryknoll Community has called for a worldwide dialogue on the issue of justice for women in the church, including the ordination of womenpriests. Roman Catholic Womenpriests stand in solidarity with our biblical sisters and offer the gift of a renewed priestly ministry that reflects the feminine face of God.
Press Release
Roman Catholic Womenpriests/USA offer renewed priestly ministry at Shadow Synod in Rome
Contacts: Ree Hudson 636 933-0387, 636.208.5598 (Cell)
Bridget Mary Meehan: RCWP Media spokesperson USA 703-283-2929
For more information http://www.romancatholicwomenpriests.org/
Roman Catholic Womenpriests are honored to participate in the “Shadow Synod” which will be held in Rome in October, 2008 at the same time as the Vatican Synod of Bishops on the Bible. Ree Hudson, a Roman Catholic Womanpriest from St. Louis will represent the Roman Catholic Womenpriests USA. Although a few women have been invited to participate as experts, decision-making at this Synod will once again be limited to male clerics. In contrast, Roman Catholic Womenpriests are offering the church a renewed model of priestly ministry rooted in the New Testament.Jesus offered an example of Gospel equality that led to the practice of ordaining women as deacons, priests and bishops in the early church. Jesus treated women and men as equals and partners. Jesus chose the Samaritan woman to announce the good news to her entire village, and the Samaritans accepted Jesus as Messiah because of her testimony. Mary of Magdala, the first witness to the resurrection, was commissioned by Jesus to be the apostle to the apostles (John 20:1-18).
In 1976, the Pontifical Biblical Commission echoed the sentiments of Jesus in concluding there is no biblical reason to prohibit women's ordination. Women and men are created in God's image and both may represent Christ as priests. "In the image of God, God created humankind, male and female God created them" (Genesis 1:26-27). In 1976, the Pontifical Biblical Commission on women priests concluded after a two year study of scripture that by a vote of 12-5 that neither the bible nor Christ excluded the ordination of women. The vote in favor of ordaining women was 14-3.
Although the Roman Catholic leadership has been all-male for the past 900 years, Christianity's first millennium saw numerous women serving with distinction as deacons, priests and bishops. Roman Catholic Womenpriests are reclaiming our ancient heritage.and shaping a more inclusive, Christ-centered church of equals in the twenty-first century. Womenbishops ordained in full apostolic succession continue to carry on the work of ordaining others in the Roman Catholic Church. We are living a new model of priestly ministry united with the people with whom we serve. Ordained women are serving the people of God in many ways including house churches and parish communities, celebrations of weddings and baptisms, hospital and hospice chaplaincy, prison ministry, anointing of the sick and elderly, ministering with homeless people, peace and justice witness and spiritual direction.
Our movement is receiving enthusiastic responses on the local, national and international level. Following Fr. Roy Bourgeois participation in the ordination of a Roman Catholic Womanpriest in Lexington Kentucky on Aug. 9, 2008, the Maryknoll Community has called for a worldwide dialogue on the issue of justice for women in the church, including the ordination of womenpriests. Roman Catholic Womenpriests stand in solidarity with our biblical sisters and offer the gift of a renewed priestly ministry that reflects the feminine face of God.
Boston Globe articles on "revisiting women's ordination" by Michael Paulson
Revisiting women's ordination, again
Posted by Michael Paulson July 28, 2008 10:37 PM
Turns out that at the same time there has been a roiling cyberdiscussion over the import of the "women's ordination" ceremony staged in Boston by Roman Catholic Womenpriests, there is also a renewed debate over women's ordination going on in academia as well.
http://www.boston.com/news/local/articles_of_faith/2008/07/revisiting_wome.html
Posted by Michael Paulson July 28, 2008 10:37 PM
Turns out that at the same time there has been a roiling cyberdiscussion over the import of the "women's ordination" ceremony staged in Boston by Roman Catholic Womenpriests, there is also a renewed debate over women's ordination going on in academia as well.
http://www.boston.com/news/local/articles_of_faith/2008/07/revisiting_wome.html
Thursday, October 2, 2008
Roman Catholic Womenpriests will be represented in Rome at Bishops' Synod
Ree Goes To Rome
(Ree Hudson on left with Bishop Patricia Fresen and Elsie McGrath at historic ordination of Roman Catholic Womenpriests in Jewish Synagoge in St. Louis, Missouri)
" If there is anyone here who feels called to the priesthood please come forward." Here I am , I am ready, Send me." This is what I was saying to myself as I went forward.
I went to the altar and stood with a wonderful bishop...a-a-a-a-a woman. She told me to stand beside her and to serve communion with her. She said, " I do not like to be alone on the altar."I felt it a privilege to stand with her and see the faces of hopeful people.
I said, "Niether do I." This has remained true to this very day. Elsie McGrath and I met each other in a sidestreet old home that had become a meeting house for people who called themselves, The Catholic Action Network. It was in the heart of St. Louis, Missouri. We have now known each other for two years, and yet we have shared a lifetime in those two years. We did our first liturgy together after ordination, and with few exceptions, have stood on the altar of Godde together and proclaimed Godde's word and broke bread with all people who have been at our liturgies.
As we were preparing for our priestly ordinations Elsie and I knew that we were to be Roman Catholic womenpriests, and therefore we would follow the Roman Rite as closely as possible, while at the same time being true to a renewed priesthood in a renewed Roman Catholic Church. On the first day of October,2007 we wrote a letter to Archbishop Burke informing him of our intentions to be ordained as priests in a Jewish Synagogue in the Central Westend of St. Louis. We had visited Rabbi Susan Talve prior to this action and she agreed to allow the ordination in the synagogue. This began the ride through a conference with the bishop's lawyer, who we did not know was a canon lawyer until the end of the conversation, no more conferences with the bishop, several documents of attempted intimidation, and finally following the ordination, excommunication. I was excited about being a priest for 54 years before finally being ordained. I am still excited as a practicing priest at present. Even though I am on an uncharted path, and one that is painful at times,but full of abundant joy, I do not, nor have I ever, since ordination, been afraid to stay the course. To live in fear is to live half a life. My compassion for Godde"s people grows stronger as I continue to love them and care for them as Godde's servant. I am excited to go to Rome and to shadow the synod of bishops who are meeting in Rome to continue charting the course of the Roman Catholic Church without women, although this year there are a few handpicked women theologians who are consistent with the Vaticans conservative stance on everything. There are no feminist theologians inside, but there will be some standing outside, waiting, as I waited 54 years to become a priest. I feel like St. Paul who knew there were challenges for him in traveling to Rome, but knew it was something he was supposed to do. I too, know there is, and will be, many challenges in Rome because I am a womanpriest,and this just is not accepted by the mainstream church. Oh, but what I am saying, the church is the people and they accept me, and my wonderful sister-priests. Therefore I will be taking the church with me. This will be an absolutely awesome plane load of people surrounded by the Holy Spirit, in a womb attached to the umbelical cord of love and peace. I attended the ordination of one of our women in downtown Minneapolis in a Native American Church. There was a lodge built inside the church built with sweet willow, and a full staff made with Eagle feathers submitted by various families. I touched the eagle feathers, and the spirit of all our relations resonnated throughout my body.We broke bread together , and the bread represented the coheasiveness of one body in Christ. I have said it three ways here and it can be said in many more ways. We are together and no human can stop the spirit of Godde as it flows where it will. I am sure as I sit here that the words I heard after ordination ring joyfully:
"Your courage gives me hope."
"You go Girl."
"The Force is with you."
See Ya soon Archbishop Burke, and you too Pope Benedict.
Veni Sancte Spiritu,
Ree Hudson, rcwp
" If there is anyone here who feels called to the priesthood please come forward." Here I am , I am ready, Send me." This is what I was saying to myself as I went forward.
I went to the altar and stood with a wonderful bishop...a-a-a-a-a woman. She told me to stand beside her and to serve communion with her. She said, " I do not like to be alone on the altar."I felt it a privilege to stand with her and see the faces of hopeful people.
I said, "Niether do I." This has remained true to this very day. Elsie McGrath and I met each other in a sidestreet old home that had become a meeting house for people who called themselves, The Catholic Action Network. It was in the heart of St. Louis, Missouri. We have now known each other for two years, and yet we have shared a lifetime in those two years. We did our first liturgy together after ordination, and with few exceptions, have stood on the altar of Godde together and proclaimed Godde's word and broke bread with all people who have been at our liturgies.
As we were preparing for our priestly ordinations Elsie and I knew that we were to be Roman Catholic womenpriests, and therefore we would follow the Roman Rite as closely as possible, while at the same time being true to a renewed priesthood in a renewed Roman Catholic Church. On the first day of October,2007 we wrote a letter to Archbishop Burke informing him of our intentions to be ordained as priests in a Jewish Synagogue in the Central Westend of St. Louis. We had visited Rabbi Susan Talve prior to this action and she agreed to allow the ordination in the synagogue. This began the ride through a conference with the bishop's lawyer, who we did not know was a canon lawyer until the end of the conversation, no more conferences with the bishop, several documents of attempted intimidation, and finally following the ordination, excommunication. I was excited about being a priest for 54 years before finally being ordained. I am still excited as a practicing priest at present. Even though I am on an uncharted path, and one that is painful at times,but full of abundant joy, I do not, nor have I ever, since ordination, been afraid to stay the course. To live in fear is to live half a life. My compassion for Godde"s people grows stronger as I continue to love them and care for them as Godde's servant. I am excited to go to Rome and to shadow the synod of bishops who are meeting in Rome to continue charting the course of the Roman Catholic Church without women, although this year there are a few handpicked women theologians who are consistent with the Vaticans conservative stance on everything. There are no feminist theologians inside, but there will be some standing outside, waiting, as I waited 54 years to become a priest. I feel like St. Paul who knew there were challenges for him in traveling to Rome, but knew it was something he was supposed to do. I too, know there is, and will be, many challenges in Rome because I am a womanpriest,and this just is not accepted by the mainstream church. Oh, but what I am saying, the church is the people and they accept me, and my wonderful sister-priests. Therefore I will be taking the church with me. This will be an absolutely awesome plane load of people surrounded by the Holy Spirit, in a womb attached to the umbelical cord of love and peace. I attended the ordination of one of our women in downtown Minneapolis in a Native American Church. There was a lodge built inside the church built with sweet willow, and a full staff made with Eagle feathers submitted by various families. I touched the eagle feathers, and the spirit of all our relations resonnated throughout my body.We broke bread together , and the bread represented the coheasiveness of one body in Christ. I have said it three ways here and it can be said in many more ways. We are together and no human can stop the spirit of Godde as it flows where it will. I am sure as I sit here that the words I heard after ordination ring joyfully:
"Your courage gives me hope."
"You go Girl."
"The Force is with you."
See Ya soon Archbishop Burke, and you too Pope Benedict.
Veni Sancte Spiritu,
Ree Hudson, rcwp
Monday, September 29, 2008
Ordain Women Banner hung in Vatican in Oct.2001
Our first Women's Ordination Worldwide (WOW) Conference was held in Dublin, Ireland in July of 2001. It was sponsored by Brothers and Sisters in Christ (BASIC), the Irish women's ordination group. During the gathering, Soline Vatinel Humbert, one of BASIC's founding members, told me about about the Synod of Bishops that was to be held in Rome during October, 2001. That got my mind swirling into the "Ordain Women" billboard mode. Seven Chicago Women's Ordination Conference (WOC) women originated the billboard idea in the spring of 2000 when they put up their billboard: "You're waiting for a sign from God? This is it: "Ordain Women" in response to the Archdiocese of Chicago's million dollar campaign for male priests. A couple of us then brought the "Ordain Women" billboard to Milwaukee (my hometown) for the November, 2000 CTA Conference. Then we moved it to Lexington from December through early February, 2001, where it was featured in the Lexington Herald-Leader newspaper three times. Then the Southeastern Pennsylvnia WOC women took it to Philadelphia. Other billboards appeared in LaCrosse, WI, and Detroit, MI as well as in Minnesota and Iowa. For the WOW Conference, BASIC put up six billboards across Ireland of their commissoned New Last Supper painting, showing Jesus sharing at a Jewish Passover meal with women, men, and children. The billboard was a useful method of promoting women's ordination to the public.
When Soline told me about the upcoming Synod of Bishops in Rome, a seed was planted. I returned home to Lexington and within two weeks I was flying back to Europe -- but this time to Rome -- intent on placing a billboard as close as I could to the Pope's window. I moved strictly on faith. After 10 days of knocking on doors, and with the grace of God, the groundwork was laid for a banner. What an adventure! Back in Lexington, a former Italian priest friend and his wife communicated with the banner-maker. A CD was sent from Chicago WOC to WOC headquarters to Rome with the image of the woman priest from WOC's "Ordain Women" poster. Funds were being raised. With the help of people in the U.S. and abroad, the banner went forward.
Meanwhile, I heard that the European We Are Church group was organizing a "Shadow Synod." My friend Judy McLaughlin and I flew from Lexington to Rome. I brought along three Kentucky Derby pies and three fifths of Kentucky Maker's Mark Bourbon as gifts for the three Italian men in Rome who helped get the banner displayed. After I dropped them off, Judy, and I took a walk on the edge of Rome near the Sistine Chapel. There on the eve of the feast day of St. Francis of Assisi, the banner was up. We cheered!
When Soline told me about the upcoming Synod of Bishops in Rome, a seed was planted. I returned home to Lexington and within two weeks I was flying back to Europe -- but this time to Rome -- intent on placing a billboard as close as I could to the Pope's window. I moved strictly on faith. After 10 days of knocking on doors, and with the grace of God, the groundwork was laid for a banner. What an adventure! Back in Lexington, a former Italian priest friend and his wife communicated with the banner-maker. A CD was sent from Chicago WOC to WOC headquarters to Rome with the image of the woman priest from WOC's "Ordain Women" poster. Funds were being raised. With the help of people in the U.S. and abroad, the banner went forward.
Meanwhile, I heard that the European We Are Church group was organizing a "Shadow Synod." My friend Judy McLaughlin and I flew from Lexington to Rome. I brought along three Kentucky Derby pies and three fifths of Kentucky Maker's Mark Bourbon as gifts for the three Italian men in Rome who helped get the banner displayed. After I dropped them off, Judy, and I took a walk on the edge of Rome near the Sistine Chapel. There on the eve of the feast day of St. Francis of Assisi, the banner was up. We cheered!
The banner hung during the Synod of Bishops in October, 2001 on the edge of Rome and the Vatican. It called for the ordination of women in seven languages: Italian, English, Polish, German, Spanish, French and Latin. Over one hundred members of Catholic reform groups from all over the world gathered nearby --at the Waldesian Theological Seminary (a Protestant seminary) -- to discuss reform measures for our Church as the bishops were meeting. This week-long gathering of worldwide Catholic reformers was sponsored by the Europeans' We Are Church.
The outcome of the action? We celebrated a liturgy to "bless the banner". Lots of people from all over the world saw it...and indeed it was a first. The Rome police came out while we were celebrating our liturgy and asked for the papers that gave permission for the banner. I had left the documents at the Salvation Army Guesthouse where we were staying, but called the banner-maker who came with the papers for the police. They were astounded that we had such a banner so close to the Vatican!
Janice Sevre-Duszynska
Saturday, September 20, 2008
Roman Catholic Womenpriests: Preparing for the Vatican Synod on the Bible, RC Church Leaders Ignore Own Scholarship favoring Womenpriests
From Oct. 5-26, the Vatican is hosting a synod entitled "The Word of God in the Life and Mission of the Church." Once again the voting members are limited to male clerics: cardinals, bishops and priests. At this historic synod, six women experts and 19 observers have been invited to participate.
The good news is that Roman Catholic Womenpriests will be represented at the Shadow Synod in Rome this year. Stay tuned for details!!
I can't believe that there are only six women scholars that have made significant contributions in biblical studies in our era. How many prominent feminists were invited to present on topics that have been ignored for far too long such as the role of women in the bible?
There has been ground-breaking work on this topic. I wrote a book , entitled, Praying with Women of the Bible, that summarized some of this outstanding, consciousness-raising research. Church leaders need look no further than than their own scholarship to conclude that women should be ordained priests in the Roman Catholic Church. The good news is now male bishops have gone ahead and ordained women bishops so that justice can now be a reality for women in the church. Jesus treated women as disciples and equals and for 1200 years women served in ordained ministry. Now Roman Catholic Womenpriests are reclaiming our ancient heritage and offering a renewed model of priestly ministry as a gift to our beloved church.
In 1976, the Pontifical Biblical Commission on women priests concluded after a two year study of scripture that by a vote of 12-5 that neither the bible nor Christ excluded the ordination of women. The vote in favor of ordaining women was 14-3.
According to a recent letter in the National Catholic Reporter, Fr. David Stanley, the head of this scholarly group resigned after he realized that the Vatican did not accept the commission's conclusions.
(Letter to the Editor , NCR, by Vic. Hummert, Sept. 19, 2008, pg 29)
(Letter to the Editor , NCR, by Vic. Hummert, Sept. 19, 2008, pg 29)
Read historic Pontifical Biblical Commission's Report on ordination of women in the Roman Catholic Church.
http://members.aol.com/mfgardner/bcr_prst.htm
For more information about Roman Catholic Womenpriests,
Friday, September 19, 2008
Roman Catholic Womanpriest: Judy Lee ministers to the homeless in the Park in Ft. Myers, Florida
You may want to listen to this inspiring NPR radio interview covering Judy Lee's ministry to the homeless in Church in the Park in Ft. Myers, Florida.
Listen Audio
Judy Lee
Sep. 18, 2008
An activist group hoping to pressure the Roman Catholic Church into dropping its exclusion of women from the priesthood ordained three women at a ceremony in Boston last month. One was Fort Myers resident, Judy Lee. Despite warnings of excommunication, Lee says she went forward with the ceremony to better serve her rather unconventional congregation. WGCU’s John Davis reports. Continue Reading Judy Lee >>-->
http://www.wgcu.org/news/
Judy Lee
Sep. 18, 2008
An activist group hoping to pressure the Roman Catholic Church into dropping its exclusion of women from the priesthood ordained three women at a ceremony in Boston last month. One was Fort Myers resident, Judy Lee. Despite warnings of excommunication, Lee says she went forward with the ceremony to better serve her rather unconventional congregation. WGCU’s John Davis reports. Continue Reading Judy Lee >>-->
http://www.wgcu.org/news/
Thursday, September 18, 2008
Mc Brien's article on Apostolic Succession in National Catholic Reporter
Mc Brien's article on Apostolic Succession in National Catholic Reporter
Debate over role of 'bishop' in apostolic succession is a church-dividing issue
Debate over role of 'bishop' in apostolic succession is a church-dividing issue
Thursday, September 11, 2008
Six experts out of 41 scholars are women for Vatican Synod
Pope Benedict has invited six women experts on the Bible to the upcoming Synod to be held in Rome from Oct. 5-26. Six out of 41 are women and nineteen observers are women.
While it is true that the Vatican has taken a baby step forward, this is far from equity, and represents a failure to incorporate the rich body of scholarship which feminists have contributed over the past twenty-five years in ground-breaking scholarship. However, as Sr. Christine Schenk observes, it is better than nothing!
Roman Catholic Womenpriests will be participating at the Shadow Synod. More about this later...!!!
Bridget Mary Meehan
Praise For Including Female Experts At Vatican Synod
Now Restore Women Leaders To Lectionary Readings
Cleveland, OH
"The Vatican is to be congratulated for including three women biblical scholars and three other women specialists to serve as experts at October's Synod on the Word," said FutureChurch director, Sr. Christine Schenk. "This is especially gratifying since no women experts were included at the 2005 Synod on the Eucharist. We are hopeful that all the international scholars selected (both male and female) are representative of the full spectrum of perspectives about women's biblical leadership.
While it is true that the Vatican has taken a baby step forward, this is far from equity, and represents a failure to incorporate the rich body of scholarship which feminists have contributed over the past twenty-five years in ground-breaking scholarship. However, as Sr. Christine Schenk observes, it is better than nothing!
Roman Catholic Womenpriests will be participating at the Shadow Synod. More about this later...!!!
Bridget Mary Meehan
Praise For Including Female Experts At Vatican Synod
Now Restore Women Leaders To Lectionary Readings
Cleveland, OH
"The Vatican is to be congratulated for including three women biblical scholars and three other women specialists to serve as experts at October's Synod on the Word," said FutureChurch director, Sr. Christine Schenk. "This is especially gratifying since no women experts were included at the 2005 Synod on the Eucharist. We are hopeful that all the international scholars selected (both male and female) are representative of the full spectrum of perspectives about women's biblical leadership.
Sunday, September 7, 2008
Three Articles: Vatican may Discipline Maryknoll Catholic Priest and Interview with Janice Sevre-Duszynska
Priest warned after woman's "ordination"
by Michael Paulson August 24, 2008 09:13 AM
by Michael Paulson August 24, 2008 09:13 AM
"The flap caught my eye for a couple reasons. First, it is the only such ceremony I'm aware of in which a priest in good standing participated openly. Second, the statement from the Maryknoll Fathers is striking for its lack of criticism, and for its description of the role of women in the church as a justice issue..."
"As a Catholic priest- and this is important- I cannot possibly speak out about the injustice of the war in Iraq, about the injustice of the School of the Americas and the suffering it causes, and at the same time be silent about this injustice in my church," he said. "I belong to a huge faith community where women are excluded, and I have a responsibility to address this."
Life on the Edge
by Charlie Pearl
Kentucky State Journal Sept. 7, 2008
Janice Sevre-Duszynska said:
"Jesus was a person who empowered others, liberated others, who gave you a sense of freedom " from whatever the parameters culturally, socially, religiously that you were suffering from. What we're doing in Roman Catholic womenpriests is restoring the church, we're rebuilding the church. We're restoring it to the Gospel vision, what Jesus called it to be, not Canon Law, which discriminates against women and other people. "
Saturday, September 6, 2008
Roman Catholic Womanpriest: Janice Sevre-Duszynska Celebrates First Mass in Dorothy Day Catholic Worker House in Washington DC
Video Links to Janice Servre-Duszynska's First Mass at Dorothy Day Catholic Worker House in Washington DCWelcome by Catholic Worker Eda Uca-Dorn
Homily:
Eucharistic Prayer
Communion Hymn: "Let the Women be there"
Blessing and Departing Hymn: We are Marching in the Light of God
Homily Text:
During my 20s and 30s I wrote plays। In 1980 when I was 30, I began work on my musical, ALTAR GIRLS, which has never been produced। Set in 1962 during Vatican II, it is about a young girl, Bibbianna, who wants to become an altar girl. Every Saturday morning when she cleans the sanctuary and priests'sacristy with Sister Joan, she tells her about her desire to become an altar girl. As time goes by, Sister Joan decides to take on Bibbi's quest as a lark at first. Later, however, her consciousness rises and not only does she support Bibbi, but she is able to name sexism in the church. In doing so she finds herself in trouble. The following dialogue is from Act II and it is between Bibbi and her parish priest.
BIBBIANNA: I've come here again, Father, to tell you that I still want to be an altar girl.
PRIEST: Now just a minute, little girl.
BIBBIANNA: I told you last time that I've memorized the Latin. Where to stand during Mass...
PRIEST: And I told you that the Catholic Church has a pope who's a man, priests, bishops and cardinals who are all men. You realize, of course, that Jesus was a man.
BIBBIANNA: Yes...
PRIEST: And you believe he was the Son of God
BIBBIANNA: Yes...
PRIEST: For two thousand years everyone's believed this. Should the Church change a rule just for you?
(She opens up a book.)
BIBBIANNA: It says here in the Bible: "Let us make man in our image, in our likeness. In the divine image, male and female they were created."
PRIEST: I'm well acquainted with that passage.
BIBBIANNA: If women are in God's image, God must be part girl.
PRIEST: Such blasphemy! Say the Creed, the pledge of allegiance to our faith. Now!
BIBBIANNA: I believe in God the Father Almighty...
PRIEST: Does it say "Mother?"
BIBBiANNA: No...but in the Bible the Holy Ghost is referred to as "her," in feminine pronouns. As a woman.
If you believe the Bible to be God's word, Father, then God is also part woman.
PRIEST: And I suppose God wears lipstick so She can look pretty.
BIBBiANNA: I don't know what God wears. But my Mother doesn't always wear lipstick, and she looks just as pretty without it.
Switch to Act III – Today some 46 years later…
What’s changed in our thinking about relationships…
…How have we been converted…changed…in our relating to people of different races, of different lands and customs, to the homeless, to homosexuals, to God, to the Earth…to women in our world community…and women in the Church.
We have begun to see the Feminine face of God…
Bibbianna can now be an altar girl…and women – like me, a grownup Bibbiana, are following their call. We can be who God calls us fully to be –even a Roman Catholic priest.
Within a renewed priesthood – we can transform our Church into the justice and peace vision of the Beatitudes – where men and women are called anew into the discipleship of equals – as partners and equals. People are doing it in many places in different ways… Calling forth the gifts of the community to serve the world.
Jesus gave us our mandate in the Gospels: to work for justice and peace for the Kindom in our midst (K I N D O M) kinfolk, sisters and brothers on an equal playing field, not kingdom or hierarchy… but rather like Dorothy Day lived out the Kindom. Like the people here at the Dorothy Day Catholic Worker are living out the Kindom.
The Church can no longer proclaim justice in the world without living the Beatitudes – bringing forth justice within the Church.
Yes, women priests have been the elephant in the living room. And now, Father Roy has courageously stepped forward to prophetically affirm Bibbianna.
Father Roy has now brought peace and justice back to the Church…From a movement not only happening in our world community, but a movement that must happen in our Church. Conversion is changing course…It is the response to the presence of God…
PRIEST: Now just a minute, little girl.
BIBBIANNA: I told you last time that I've memorized the Latin. Where to stand during Mass...
PRIEST: And I told you that the Catholic Church has a pope who's a man, priests, bishops and cardinals who are all men. You realize, of course, that Jesus was a man.
BIBBIANNA: Yes...
PRIEST: And you believe he was the Son of God
BIBBIANNA: Yes...
PRIEST: For two thousand years everyone's believed this. Should the Church change a rule just for you?
(She opens up a book.)
BIBBIANNA: It says here in the Bible: "Let us make man in our image, in our likeness. In the divine image, male and female they were created."
PRIEST: I'm well acquainted with that passage.
BIBBIANNA: If women are in God's image, God must be part girl.
PRIEST: Such blasphemy! Say the Creed, the pledge of allegiance to our faith. Now!
BIBBIANNA: I believe in God the Father Almighty...
PRIEST: Does it say "Mother?"
BIBBiANNA: No...but in the Bible the Holy Ghost is referred to as "her," in feminine pronouns. As a woman.
If you believe the Bible to be God's word, Father, then God is also part woman.
PRIEST: And I suppose God wears lipstick so She can look pretty.
BIBBiANNA: I don't know what God wears. But my Mother doesn't always wear lipstick, and she looks just as pretty without it.
Switch to Act III – Today some 46 years later…
What’s changed in our thinking about relationships…
…How have we been converted…changed…in our relating to people of different races, of different lands and customs, to the homeless, to homosexuals, to God, to the Earth…to women in our world community…and women in the Church.
We have begun to see the Feminine face of God…
Bibbianna can now be an altar girl…and women – like me, a grownup Bibbiana, are following their call. We can be who God calls us fully to be –even a Roman Catholic priest.
Within a renewed priesthood – we can transform our Church into the justice and peace vision of the Beatitudes – where men and women are called anew into the discipleship of equals – as partners and equals. People are doing it in many places in different ways… Calling forth the gifts of the community to serve the world.
Jesus gave us our mandate in the Gospels: to work for justice and peace for the Kindom in our midst (K I N D O M) kinfolk, sisters and brothers on an equal playing field, not kingdom or hierarchy… but rather like Dorothy Day lived out the Kindom. Like the people here at the Dorothy Day Catholic Worker are living out the Kindom.
The Church can no longer proclaim justice in the world without living the Beatitudes – bringing forth justice within the Church.
Yes, women priests have been the elephant in the living room. And now, Father Roy has courageously stepped forward to prophetically affirm Bibbianna.
Father Roy has now brought peace and justice back to the Church…From a movement not only happening in our world community, but a movement that must happen in our Church. Conversion is changing course…It is the response to the presence of God…
Saturday, August 30, 2008
List of National Catholic Reporter's Articles on Fr. Roy Bourgeois support of ordination of women
http://ncronline3.org/drupal/?q=node/1713
Fr. Roy Bourgeois meeting 'productive'
Published: September 5, 2008
By NCR Staff
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
http://ncronline3.org/drupal/?q=node/1616
Maryknoll priest backs woman's ordination
Publication date: August 22, 2008
By DENNIS CODAY and TOM ROBERTS
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
http://ncronline3.org/drupal/?q=node/1650
Maryknoll's Bourgeois calls meeting with order 'productive'
Published: August 19, 2008
By TOM ROBERTS
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
http://ncronline3.org/drupal/?q=node/1568
Sixth Catholic woman priest ordained this year
Published: August 9, 2008
By DENNIS CODAY, NCR staff writer
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
http://ncronline3.org/drupal/?q=node/1567
Bourgeois homily: 'Conscience compels us to be here today'
Published: August 9, 2008
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
http://ncronline3.org/drupal/?q=node/1565
Peace activist priest assists at women's ordination ceremony
Published: August 9, 2008
By TOM ROBERTS, NCR staff
Letter to Editor of National Catholic Reporter: Support of Roman Catholic Womenpriests
September 5, 2008
"Congratulations for your continued coverage of the Roman Catholic Womenpriests ordination movement. Your excellent story on the ordination of Janice Sevre-Duszynska in Lexington, Ky. (NCR, Aug. 22), made me feel proud to be on the side of priest Janice, Bishop Dana Reynolds and all her supporters rather than clerical bullies in the Lexington diocese and the Vatican."..........
DAN DINAN
San Diego
Read complete letter: http://ncronline3.org/drupal/?q=node/1733
"Congratulations for your continued coverage of the Roman Catholic Womenpriests ordination movement. Your excellent story on the ordination of Janice Sevre-Duszynska in Lexington, Ky. (NCR, Aug. 22), made me feel proud to be on the side of priest Janice, Bishop Dana Reynolds and all her supporters rather than clerical bullies in the Lexington diocese and the Vatican."..........
DAN DINAN
San Diego
Read complete letter: http://ncronline3.org/drupal/?q=node/1733
Ireland is running out of male priests: It is time for Roman Catholic Womenpriests
Clergy in crisis: Forget Father Ted... Ireland is running out of
> *...*
>
> Independent - London,England,UK
> By David McKittrick When the *Catholic* Archbishop of Dublin,
> Diarmuid Martin, solemnly *ordained* this year's crop of new
> priests in his diocese last month, *...*
> See all stories on this topic
>
It is time for Roman Catholic Womenpriests in Ireland. At this threshold of both hope and anxiety in Ireland, we can reclaim our wisdom fgures from our ancient Celtic tradition as guides in this time of transformation for the Roman Catholic Church. As an Irish-born woman and Roman Catholic womanpriest, I have great passion for my faith and heritage. I wrote a book and produced several television programs on Celtic spirituality. Here is one of the insights I discovered that uplifted me and grounded me in the Celtic Christian story of faith and experience of equality in Christ.
Bishop Mel, Patrick's nephew, ordained St. Brigit of Kildare a bishop. The partnership and equality of women and men can be seen in the double monastery system. Both Brigit of Kildare and Hilda of Whitby founded monasteries in which women and men lived. Some believe that Ita's foundation in Kileevy was a mixed community. These monasteries settlements,referred to as conhospitae or double houses, included women and men, some of whom lived a celibate life while others were married couples with children, but all living as a Christian community, having dedicated their lives to Christ. All, whether married or single, were referred to by a term that translates as "religious. Thus, in this partnership model of women and men who served in priestly ministry serves as model for the renewal of priestly ministry not only in Ireland, but elsewhere as well.
According to this article, some priests, parishes and dioceses in Ireland are planning to hire the people in the community to do pastoral work. This is an important step forward from a clergy dominated model of church to a people empowered community of believers.
However, according to the canon law of the church, all decision making is reseved to the clergy. Therefore,unless there is structural change in the church, these pastoral workers will not be on an equal footing with the parish priest or bishop, and this can result in dismissal and firings at the whim of the clergy in charge.
This has been the unfortunate experience of pastoral ministers in the United States. Approximately 80% of pastoral work is performed by women in the United States.
Roman Catholic Womenpriests believe that we must have an equal playing field in the service of the community. Our vision and practice incorporate the people in our communities as equals. We are called to serve with the people in a community of equals modeled on example of Jesus who called women and men to be disciples and equals. The institutional church must move from a power over model, a dominator model to an empowerment model where we have a truly empowered community working together in a collaborative effort to celebrate the Christ Presence in our midst.Roman Catholic Womenpriests are offering the church a renewed model of priestly ministry that is rooted in partnership and equality-- similar in vision to early Celtic Christian model of a Christ-centered, Spirit-empowered community in the local church.
For more information about the role that women played in early Celtic Christianity, read my book, Praying with Celtic Holy Women available online on amazon.com or email me at sofiabmm@aol.com
www.romancatholicwomenpriests.org
www.godtalktv.org
Bridget Mary Meehan ( I was born in Laois County, Ireland and lived there until I was eight years old. Our family has returned often to visit our relatives.)
>
>
> *...*
>
> Independent - London,England,UK
> By David McKittrick When the *Catholic* Archbishop of Dublin,
> Diarmuid Martin, solemnly *ordained* this year's crop of new
> priests in his diocese last month, *...*
> See all stories on this topic
>
It is time for Roman Catholic Womenpriests in Ireland. At this threshold of both hope and anxiety in Ireland, we can reclaim our wisdom fgures from our ancient Celtic tradition as guides in this time of transformation for the Roman Catholic Church. As an Irish-born woman and Roman Catholic womanpriest, I have great passion for my faith and heritage. I wrote a book and produced several television programs on Celtic spirituality. Here is one of the insights I discovered that uplifted me and grounded me in the Celtic Christian story of faith and experience of equality in Christ.
Bishop Mel, Patrick's nephew, ordained St. Brigit of Kildare a bishop. The partnership and equality of women and men can be seen in the double monastery system. Both Brigit of Kildare and Hilda of Whitby founded monasteries in which women and men lived. Some believe that Ita's foundation in Kileevy was a mixed community. These monasteries settlements,referred to as conhospitae or double houses, included women and men, some of whom lived a celibate life while others were married couples with children, but all living as a Christian community, having dedicated their lives to Christ. All, whether married or single, were referred to by a term that translates as "religious. Thus, in this partnership model of women and men who served in priestly ministry serves as model for the renewal of priestly ministry not only in Ireland, but elsewhere as well.
According to this article, some priests, parishes and dioceses in Ireland are planning to hire the people in the community to do pastoral work. This is an important step forward from a clergy dominated model of church to a people empowered community of believers.
However, according to the canon law of the church, all decision making is reseved to the clergy. Therefore,unless there is structural change in the church, these pastoral workers will not be on an equal footing with the parish priest or bishop, and this can result in dismissal and firings at the whim of the clergy in charge.
This has been the unfortunate experience of pastoral ministers in the United States. Approximately 80% of pastoral work is performed by women in the United States.
Roman Catholic Womenpriests believe that we must have an equal playing field in the service of the community. Our vision and practice incorporate the people in our communities as equals. We are called to serve with the people in a community of equals modeled on example of Jesus who called women and men to be disciples and equals. The institutional church must move from a power over model, a dominator model to an empowerment model where we have a truly empowered community working together in a collaborative effort to celebrate the Christ Presence in our midst.Roman Catholic Womenpriests are offering the church a renewed model of priestly ministry that is rooted in partnership and equality-- similar in vision to early Celtic Christian model of a Christ-centered, Spirit-empowered community in the local church.
For more information about the role that women played in early Celtic Christianity, read my book, Praying with Celtic Holy Women available online on amazon.com or email me at sofiabmm@aol.com
www.romancatholicwomenpriests.org
www.godtalktv.org
Bridget Mary Meehan ( I was born in Laois County, Ireland and lived there until I was eight years old. Our family has returned often to visit our relatives.)
>
>
Roman Catholic Womenpriests' Views published in Wall Street Journal on Aug. 29, 2008
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB121996732843481517.html?mod=googlenews_wsj
Catholic Womenpriests Struggle on a Steep Path
August 29, 2008; Page A16
Regarding "The Problem With Liberation Ordination" by Kathryn Jean Lopez (Houses of Worship, Aug. 22): Roman Catholic Womenpriests have not aligned themselves with a tradition that has a sister "declaring the Eucharist 'defective and inadequate for women' " -- quite the contrary. The Eucharist has always been the major focal point of the Roman Catholic Womenpriests movement and our inclusive Christ-centered ministry.
Dr. Bridget Mary Meehan
RCWP-USA-South
Administrator
Falls Church, Va.
See letter by Roman Catholic Womanpriest: Alice Iaquinta and other supportive letters of women's ordination
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB121996732843481517.html?mod=googlenews_wsj
Catholic Womenpriests Struggle on a Steep Path
August 29, 2008; Page A16
Regarding "The Problem With Liberation Ordination" by Kathryn Jean Lopez (Houses of Worship, Aug. 22): Roman Catholic Womenpriests have not aligned themselves with a tradition that has a sister "declaring the Eucharist 'defective and inadequate for women' " -- quite the contrary. The Eucharist has always been the major focal point of the Roman Catholic Womenpriests movement and our inclusive Christ-centered ministry.
Dr. Bridget Mary Meehan
RCWP-USA-South
Administrator
Falls Church, Va.
See letter by Roman Catholic Womanpriest: Alice Iaquinta and other supportive letters of women's ordination
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB121996732843481517.html?mod=googlenews_wsj
Thursday, August 28, 2008
Roman Catholic Womanpriest: Michele Birch-Conery's Article on sin of sexism
Does women’s ordination challenge the sin of sexism practiced by the Vatican church?
These reflections are a revision of a text that appeared in the Corpus Canada Journal
the week of August 25/08.
Michele Birch Conery
These reflections are a revision of a text that appeared in the Corpus Canada Journal
the week of August 25/08.
Michele Birch Conery
RCWP priest ordained St, Lawrence ordinations 2005
On August 9th Roy Bourgeois, a Maryknoll priest and the founder of the School of the Americas Watch, concelebrated and gave a supportive homily at the priestly ordination of Janice Sevre-Duszyinska in Lexington, Kentucky. Immediately, the Vatican pressured the superiors of the Maryknoll community to condemn the actions of their much respected priest.
What would the Maryknoll superiors do? Would they act as did the Benedictine Sisters in support of Sr. Joan Chittister in 2001? At that time, she transgressed John Paul II’s edict of silence, first by attending and then by speaking positively about the ordination of women at the Women’s Ordination Worldwide conference in Dublin, Ireland.
Within days, an extensive campaign of support for Roy Bourgeois urged the Maryknoll superiors to stand by their contemporary justice prophet. On August 19, the National Catholic Reporter (NCR) published the latest news (http://ncronline3.org/drupal) about Maryknoll’s seemingly positive meeting with Roy Bourgeois. It appears that the religious congregation is prepared to stand with him in their willingness to “urge” a continuing dialogue about the place of women in the Church. One hopes that this will include the ordination of women.
However, Roy Bourgeois has been warned not to attend any more RCWP ordinations. That may not be necessary. His homily of justice towards women in the RC Church cannot be erased from the historical record, any more than Chittister’s talk in Dublin can be suppressed. As of this writing, the Vatican’s excommunication “latae sententiae” has not been applied to Fr. Bourgeois. Nevertheless, it was quickly imposed on Sister Louise Lears, a Sister of Charity of Maryland, for attending another RCWP ordination in St.Louis, in November 2007. There, she was seen on a camera operated on behalf of the diocese. Are the Vatican’s responses to men in religious orders different than women in religious congregations and are they different from censures of diocesan priests? Over time, the import of these contradictory responses may become clear. Meanwhile, it is necessary to question and search for answers.
It is now less than 3 months when the Vatican issued the automatic or blanket excommunication of all RCWP ordained deacons, priests and bishops. It was published on May 29th, the day for the ordination of Monica Kilburn-Smith and Jim Lauder in Victoria, BC. It did not dampen the joy of the celebration presided by bishop Patricia Fresen together with an eager gathering in the United Church of St. Aidan’s on Vancouver Island in Canada. We had now embraced the third ordained Roman Catholic woman priest in our country, as well as the first RCWP male ordained to the priesthood. In this inclusivity, the issues surrounding sexism in the ordination of women are somewhat blurred; however, the fact that a male was willing to stand and undergo the same penalty with us, modeled what may someday become a non-clericalist, non-sexist priesthood as we envision it currently in RCWP. For the moment, I learned that it is still hard to see and take in the deeper significance of the ordination of women. Who are we in the sanctuary and around the table of worship? The answer is multi-layered and, as with other crucial issues pertaining to the ordination of women, will be unfolded over time.
What has become clear since 2005, when the first women were ordained RCWP priests in North America, is that we are emerging with the People of God who, in the majority, believe that women should be ordained. This majority rejects the Vatican’s continued refusal to ordain women, and many understand that we have moved beyond words, alone. Instead, we are taking action on this issue of justice for women in the church. People come to the ordinations with joy and they are invigorated with hope because of them.
Nevertheless, the Curia’s continuing ”NO” enhanced by the penalty of excommunication raises issues about the justice and credibility of such a publicly excluding practice. Women’s ordination holds up a mirror to the systemic malpractice of an unjust law and gradually, as we pursue this issue in the realities of sacramental and pastoral practice, we uncover how this denial of another’s basic human rights has affected us all. It would seem that in public censures and in resistance to reasonable change, the Vatican church understands its power to be that which binds more than that which can loosen a long held but now unacceptable belief. A deep fear of acting in the freedom and fullness of the life of the Holy Spirit has set in. Instead of creating the possibilities for evolving with the signs of the times, we have a backward looking resistance to change. It is possible to conclude that this fear is driven by the loss of an authoritarian power accustomed to determining action.
The opposite of this kind of power is that which authors and this is the kind of power that frees action for new life. Insofar as obedience is necessary to sustain authoritarianism, then excommunication is tied to it as cart is to horse. The reality of women going ahead with ordinations ‘contra legem’ understandably stands this institutional culture on its head. Since the majority of Catholics now accept the need for the ordination of women, it is evident that they have matured in their knowledge and understanding of human
rights and justice issues not just in the larger global societies, but within the Church of their heritage. Many reject Vatican definitional practices that are contrary to what they know from their knowledge and experience to be true. This puts them in a crisis of conscience where they often have to choose what is contrary to Vatican imperatives.
There are numbers of issues which can be likened to what we now see in the women
going ahead with valid but illicit ordination in RCWP. It is neither a mystery nor confusing to justice oriented Roman Catholics to see this manifestation of womepriests.
To impose the penalty of automatic excommunication for disregarding a man-made
Canon law is an excessive use of authority not only against the ordained women but also against the ‘sensus fidelium’ where the wisdom of the Spirit ultimately resides. When understanding evolves such that there is no turning back, then an idea and practice has likely outlived its time. In the case of denying ordination to women and then punishing those ordained ‘contra legem,’ we now have a practice that represents the sin of sexism and more particularly, clericalism. Women who now seek ordination and/or leadership in the church are not recalcitrant children to be chided and sent to their rooms, until they repent their disobedience to an outraged parent. Nor is anyone among the People of God recalcitrant who, for reasons of conscience, disobeys unjust laws.
Rather, these persons take a stand in prophetic obedience or holy disobedience. This has been a way of serving God that pre-dates Christianity and it is a tried way of being in the church community that carries validity in our Roman Catholic tradition. Thus, one might be led to question the practice of excommunication itself that dismisses and excludes someone without permitting their questions and their answers to be heard through fair representation. A practice such as excommunication is outside the realm of law in all democratic countries. One might conclude that it has become an outlaw practice and that it should be relinquished by a Church claiming to represent the prophetic way of Jesus, who excommunicated no one, not even his betrayer.
Given the knowledge of the People of God, who are more advanced in understanding freedom and justice than in any other time of history, the practice of excommunication is now difficult to identify except in recognizing suffering in the most oppressive circumstances of life. It is extremely threatening for those who work in church contexts and who can lose their jobs and livelihoods for expressing dissent. The practice represents an outdated monarchical relationship with subjects who, if they offended the king or queen were imprisoned and executed. Now it is an instrument of spiritual intimidation and abuse not just of an individual, in their conscience, but of the entire Body of Christ.
Redressing the effects of patriarchal authoritarianism and sexism is just what women and other justice seeking persons care about in seeking ordination at this time. They wish to address the deep violations enacted upon them as the People of God. The Danube seven said it best when answering the first edict for the excommunication of Roman Catholic Women Priests in 2002. They responded swiftly to the curia’s formal letter delivered by hand and pushed directly under the front doors of their homes .Dr. Gisela Forster of Germany still describes the day when the envelope with the red writing appeared. At first she thought it was an advertisement until she saw the magisterial print. Then she knew that the arrival of a momentous decision had taken place by stealth.
All seven women priests wrote their response to the Vatican in familiar, rather than in abstract ecclesial language, and they wrote it together. Their words are open for all to read on their website ‘Virtuelle Dioeceze.’ The reply is relevant to all who have been persecuted because of disagreements of conscience seen as disobedience. One is struck by their words in a directive plea revealing a firm response to authoritarian behaviour. They say, “Don’t be obstinate. This must stop.” These words imply that the capacity to end the practice of excommunication and to examine existing unjust Canon laws is possible and within the powers of Church leaders.
As with the Danube 7, is it possible for us, in the priesthood of the people, to question our practices of the sin of sexism and to take accountability for it and for its effects? Although the energy of sexism has been driven by clerical authority in our Church, it belongs to all of us insofar as we are the Church.
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
New Catholic Times: Newsletter for Aug. 25, 2008
Roy Bouegeois drunk on new wine
By The Editorial Group.
Fr. Roy Bourgeois is merely the latest sacrificial lamb to pay the price for saying the obvious: "Sexism is a sin."http://www.newcatholictimes.com/index.php?module=articles&func=display&ptid=1&aid=424
By The Editorial Group.
Fr. Roy Bourgeois is merely the latest sacrificial lamb to pay the price for saying the obvious: "Sexism is a sin."http://www.newcatholictimes.com/index.php?module=articles&func=display&ptid=1&aid=424
Sunday, August 24, 2008
Photos of Kentucky and Boston Ordinations: Article up on Google News about Roman Catholic Womenpriests Ordinations in Boston and Kentucky
In the photo above, Bishop Dana Reynolds prays the Prayer of Consecration over Janice Sevre-Duszynska on Aug. 9, 2008 at her priestly ordination in Lexington, Kentucky.
In the photo below, Bishop Dana Reynolds and Bishop Ida Raming ordain: Gloria Carpeneto, Judy Lee, and Gabriella Velardi-Ward in Boston on July 20, 2008
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