Roman Catholic Womenpriests: "Catholic Women Answering Priesthood's Call " Article in Denver Post

Peter and Sheila Dierks, Bridget Mary Meehan (left to right)

"Colorado Women Answering Priesthood's Call They are Colorado's second and third women to be ordained in the Ecumenical Catholic Communion." By Electa Draper The Denver Post "Sheila Dierks paused a beat before answering an old acquaintance's question about what she'd been doing lately." " 'I'm going to be ordained as a Catholic priest this weekend,' the 66-year-old Dierks told her." http://www.denverpost.com/headlines/ci_13371026 Congratulations to Sheila and Teri on this historic occasion. I had the honor of spending a weekend with Sheila Dierks and speaking at two events sponsored by the ECC community in Colorado. I was the guest homilist for the liturgy at the Church of the Holy Family in Aurora, Colorado on Sept. 5th, 2009. See post on Sept. 7th for my article.

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

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




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



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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Roman Catholic Womenpriests : Volunteer Teacher Dismissed for Support of Sr. Louise Akers

Teacher ousted for support of nun
By Dan Horn • dhorn@enquirer.com • September 14, 2009
By Dan Horn
dhorn@enquirer.com
"A volunteer religious education teacher was dismissed this weekend for publicly voicing support for Sister Louise Akers, who has beenhttp://news.cincinnati.com/article/20090902/NEWS01/309020027" target="_new">orderedby Archbishop Daniel Pilarczyk to stop teaching because her backing of women priests contradicts Catholic doctrine."
"Dr. Carol Egner, a life-long Catholic and gynecologist, got into trouble when she wrote ahttp://cincinnati.com/blogs/letters/2009/09/04/where-in-the-bible-does-it-say-women-cant-be-priests/" target="_new">letter to the Enquirer supporting Akers.
When Egner’s pastor read her letter, he asked her to write another that either renounced her position or made clear that she “yields to the wisdom of the church.”
When she refused, she was told she could no longer teach her Old Testament class for sixth-graders at Our Lady of Lourdes parish in Westwood.
“'This is frightening,” Egner said Monday. “I think it’s a step backward.'”

This action is a disgraceful abuse of power. It reflects a spirit of intimidation by church leaders who are threatened by women priests. Ask yourself, what would Jesus say and do? Jesus chose women to be disciples and equals. The Samaritan woman was the first evangelist and Mary of Magdala was chosen by Jesus to be the apostle to the apostles -- to announce the good news of his resurrection. When will the hierarchy treat women like Jesus did?
An institution that resorts to threats and punishments to enforce obedience to , man-made teaching that is rejected by the Catholic faithful is tottering on its last legs! Like the Berlin Wall,, one day, hopefully, in the not too distant future this "wall" of patriarchal oppression will come tumbling down as the people of God vote with their feet by attending womenpriests liturgies, calling forth women leaders for ordination to serve their communities, and supporting the spread of the Roman Catholic Womenpriests movement in grassroots communities all over the world. The time for the full equality of women in the Roman Catholic Church has come. Women, like Sr. Louise and Dr. Egner, will not be silenced! May God's Spirit inspire many more people in the pews to stand up now for justice in our beloved church and bring into being the renewal of our church.
Bridget Mary Meehan, rcwp
sofiabmm@aol.com

Roman Catholic Womenpriests : Homily by Kathy Redig

Homily—24^th Sunday in Ordinary Time

September 13, 2009

Who do you say that I am? A very compelling question asked by Jesus in today’s gospel of his first disciples and a question by extension asked of each of us today. Our answer of course determines the whole rest of our lives! But let that sit for now.

Each one of us probably has acquired an image of Jesus over our years of faith—an image that fits our notion of who God might be like—or what a messiah might be like. Those people who lived before Jesus’ coming had an idea too. They lived in the time of kings—perhaps the messiah would be an anointed king—a political leader. The Jewish people had a priestly class to reference, so maybe the messiah would be an anointed priest.

We know that Jesus came neither as anointed king nor anointed priest, but given the types of leaders that people had in 1^st Century Palestine, we can understand why they thought this “mysterious one,” promised for so long, whom they thought would deliver them from all their troubles, might appear as priest or king. Jesus did appear as one anointed, “blessed by God” and came to be known by some as the Messiah, as Peter proclaims in our gospel reading today—in the Greek, “anointed” or “messiah,” translates as “Christ.”

As I said above, Jesus came as one “anointed” and this happened more symbolically than actually, through Jesus’ words and actions—geared toward service. Scripture does record him being anointed at Bethany by Mary, of Mary and Martha fame, but never in a public way, was Jesus anointed.

Matthew 25 is Jesus’ testament and practice of living an anointed life. “Whatever you do for the least among us, you do for me and likewise, whatever you refuse to do for these least, you refuse to do for me.”

Jesus tells the apostles in today’s gospel that if they want to follow him, it’s not just about the preaching and the healing, but that they will have to pick up their cross and carry it too, just as he will eventually have to do. There will be death, but resurrection too! All hard sayings. These first followers couldn’t understand why after they had waited so long for the Messiah to come, that he would have to die and be taken from them. And more than likely, they didn’t understand what resurrection was. And that is understandable—who of us understands it?—it is one of those things we have to experience to really grasp I’m thinking.

These first followers clearly had different expectations, and so no doubt were disappointed and disillusioned. The answer to the earlier question of why the messiah, Jesus, the Christ was crucified is simple—he didn’t meet the expectations of those who awaited him and for some probably was more than they bargained for. The punishment for being counter-culture in Jesus’ time was to silence them—or try, so he suffered crucifixion. Today the Church tries to silence too—they aren’t quite as gruesome—excommunication and banishment, refusal to offer the sacraments, they feel will do.

So, my friends, back to our original question—Jesus’ question to each of us: “Who do you say that I am?”

If we answer, “You are the Christ, the First Born of the Living God,” the One that I believe shows us the way, the truth and the life—then does that not pave the way that our life must take? Does it not suggest that if we call ourselves “Christians,” we must walk in Jesus’ footsteps of justice, mercy, acceptance and love for all, no matter who they are? Does it not also mean that we will have to carry our own personal crosses of misunderstanding, pain and abandonment?

I believe the answer is “yes” to all of the above. James tells us today in simple terms—“faith without good works is dead.” Quite clear it seems. We can’t say we are followers of Jesus—profess belief in him and stop there—no one will believe us if we merely talk—we must, as they say, “walk the walk.”

Sometimes this all might feel very daunting and we wonder where we will find the strength, the words, the deeds, to walk this walk. We receive much encouragement in our first reading today from Isaiah. We do not walk alone—our God walks with us and that gives us a strength that we wouldn’t have on our own. We have each other and we must be the strength that each other needs. Isaiah says, we must confront each other—help each other to be the best we can be. And with the knowledge that Jesus our brother has first walked this walk and with his promise that the Spirit will always be with us—we have nothing to fear.

Kathy Redig, M.A. in Pastoral Ministries is a certified chaplain. She has served in Winona, MN in this capacity since 1995. Through this ministry she became aware that many people feel disenfranchised from the Catholic church and other churches. She was called to ministry at a young age, entering the convent after high school. Eventually realizing that she needed a partner in life, she left, married, and with her husband, raised two children. She suddenly became aware that God was calling her to ordination to become part of the change that she hoped to see within the Catholic church. Kathy is working along with her husband, Robert to establish a parish where all will be welcome at the table. krredig@hbci.com

Roman Catholic Womenpriests: Article on Linda Wilcox's Ordination on Aug. 16, 2009 in Minneapolis, Minnesota

http://www.woodburybulletin.com/event/article/id/32613/group/home/

"I would really like to stick around and make a difference, even if it’s just a little move in the right direction and change this church that I love,” she said.

Roman Catholic Womenpriests : Prominent theologian Edward Schillebeeckx supports new initiatives in the church as path to renewal in RC church

Prominent theologian Edward Schillebeeckx, O.P. in his book: Ministry: Leadership in the Church of Jesus Christ stated: "Against the background of the existing church order then, new and sometimes urgently required alternative possibilities are often only to be seen through the medium of what is bound to be regarded as, at least temporarily, illegal. This is not a new phenomenon in the church - it has always been the case.
Renewal in the church usually begins with illegal deviations and it rarely happens that attempts at renewal come from above.
It is not possible to ask the highest authority in a world church to change the prevailing order in that church if the change does not meet with the approval of the majority of Christian communities."


This insight affirms the Roman Catholic Womenpriests movement which is offering a renewed model of priestly ministry in the church, rooted in Jesus example of Gospel equality. For Jesus women and men are equals. At the Last Supper, Jesus addressed his mandate: "Do this in memory of me" to women and men, therefore empowering women to preside at Eucharist, which they did in the house churches in the early centuries of the church's history.
Roman Catholic Womenpriests remind us that women are equal images of God and are called to preside at sacramental celebrations and to be partners n all areas of governance in the church. Roman Catholic Womenpriests are moving from a top-down approach to a more open, inclusive, participatory model in union with the people with whom we serve. We are charting a new path of renewal for priestly ministry an emerging model of renewal for priesthood and church. No wonder the Vatican including some of our bishops are threatened! We must be patient as the Spirit will prevail. She always does!
Bridget Mary Meehan, rcwp

Roman Catholic Womenpriests : "Magisterium: The Teaching Authority of the Church, by Francis Sullivan ,Primacy of Conscience, Faithful Dissent

Recommended Reading
Francis Sullivan, S.J. from his Magisterium: The Teaching Authority of the Church:

"Before the pope can define a dogma, he must listen to the church and he can define as dogma only what he finds in the faith of the church. The pope has no source of revelation that is independent of the faith-life of the church...From this, it follows that the pope cannot simply define a dogma without having, in some real way, consulted the faith of the church, for he can define only something that has been handed on in the teaching, life, and worship of the church.
... It is unjust to treat all dissent from the teaching of the ordinary magisterium as disobedience, or to turn agreement with his teaching as a test of loyalty to the Holy See. No doubt, there are Catholics who respect for the teaching authority of the pope is so great that the simple appeal to his formal authority is enough to convince them that the teaching must be true...but such persons should resist the temptation to think disloyal other Catholics in whose minds the reasons against the teaching make so strong an impression that the formal authority of the magisterium is not enough to overcome their doubts.
If, in a particular instance, Catholics have offered their religious submission of mind and will to the authority of the magisterium by making an honest and sustained effort to achieve internal assent to its teaching and still find that doubts about its truth remain so strong in their minds that they cannot actually give their sincere intellectual assent to it, I do not see how one could judge such non-assent to involve any lack of obedience to the magisterium."
Fr. Sullivan's book was used commonly in U.S. seminaries and reflects the importance of loyal dissent in the Catholic Church. This is vital to understand the reason why Catholics can dissent from papal teaching and remain faithful members of the church.

Richard McCormick, S.J. specified four criteria for "responsible" dissent:

1. A sincere effort to understand the teaching (of the church)

2. Consideration of the reasons for the teaching and those against (it)

3. Serious examination of one's conscience

4. Holding respect for the general trustworthiness of the church.

See excellent website: Women Priests: http://www.womenpriests.org/teach_ac.asp for discussion of "infallibility" as it fails to meet the test in reference to Magisterium's teaching on women's ordination.
The main reason is that neither Popes Paul Vl or John Paul ll consulted the "universal ordinary magisterium", the teaching of all the Catholic bishops in the world. See my comments below:
In the case of women's ordination. Pope John Paul 11 in "Ordinatio Sacerdotalis" declared "That women cannot be ordained priests has been set forth infallibly by the ordinary and universal magisterium" on May 22, 1994. However the pope did not consult the faithful including the world's bishops and theologians. The majority of theologians have rejected this teaching.In order for a teaching to be infallible, it must be declared by the combined teaching of all the Catholic bishops in the world.
Since the majority of the world's Catholics reject this teaching including most theologians, the Vatican's prohibition against women's ordination is not authoritative and contradicts Jesus's example of Gospel equality, the early church tradition, and the Vatican's own scholarship. In the Gospels, Jesus treated women and men as equals. Paul commended deacon Phoebe and called Junia an outstanding apostle and co-worker in Romans 16. Historical evidence demonstrates that women were ordained deacons, priests and bishops during the first twelve hundred years of the church's history. Some popes, like Gelaius, who wrote a papal bull asking the bishops of southern Italy to discontinue the practice of allowing women to preside at Eucharist and bishops, like Atto of Vercelli, who acknowledged that the priestly ministry of women in the early church was a response to the great need. In 1975, a report of the Pontifical Biblical Commission (the Vatican's own scholars) concluded that the ordination of women could NOT be excluded on the basis of Scriptures. Thus, the Sacred Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith and the pope have not established infallible teaching by the ordinary universal magisterium on women priests.
Bridget Mary Meehan , rcwp
sofiabmm@aol.com
www.romancatholicwomenpriests.org

Roman Catholic Womenpriests : "In the Bushes" Questions asked by Vatican investigators by John Chuchman

In the Bushes

A few of the questions asked of the nuns by the Vatican Investigators:

2D. In what way are non-members, including “associates,”
involved in the governance of the institute?
(Who said associates are non-members?)

2G. What is the process for responding to sisters
who dissent publicly or privately
from the authoritative teaching of the Church?
(No private opinions allowed?)
(What exactly is the “authoritative” teaching of the church?)

2H. What is the process for responding to sisters
who disagree publicly or privately
with congregational decisions,
especially regarding matters of Church authority?
(Note the “especially.”)

3C. How do your initial and on-going formation programs
integrate the most recent documents of the Church
concerning religious life?
(And they are?)

4C. Are daily Mass and frequent reception of the Sacrament of Penance
a priority for your sisters?
(Frequent penance is needed for such sinners.)

4D. Do the sisters of your institute participate
in Eucharistic Liturgy according to approved liturgical norms?
(Stifle the Creativity, Sisters.)

4G. How does the manner of dress of your sisters . . .
bear witness to the dignity and simplicity of your vocation?
(Where’s the habits?)

Roman Catholic Womenpriests : A Movement rooted in Jesus' example of Gospel equality

Roman Catholic Womenpriests are rooted in Jesus' example of Gospel equality. Women priests remind us that women are equal images of God. We are leading the church into an era of full equality, equal partnership and sacramental ministry in a renewed priestly ministry in a community of equals now. As theologian Sandra Schneiders said: "Jesus and his itinerant band of ministerial disciples wore no special clothes and had no fixed abode. He brought down the murderous ire of the hierarchy of his own religious tradition because, among other things, he related to women as equals and involved them along with men in his ministry; he reached out to the "disordered" and marginalized in his society, laid healing hands on the suffering, conversed with and allowed himself to be challenged and changed by people outside his own religious tradition, refused to condemn anyone, however "sinful," except religious hypocrites burdening people with obligations beyond their strength." (Essay 8/21/09 reprinted in Courage: Newsletter of Loretta Women's Network)

Roman Catholic Womenpriests : Liturgy with Ecumenical Catholic Communion at Church of the Holy Family in Aurora, Colorado

Liturgy at Church of the Holy Family

Liturgy at Church of the Holy Family


Reception after liturgy at
Church of Holy Family
(Deacon Kathleen Gorman, Terry Harroun, ECC Administrator,
Bridget Mary, Fr. Scott Jenkins, Eileen Knoff, Lisa Nemmers)

Peter and Sheila Dierks, Bridget Mary
(left to right)


(Bridget Mary, Sharon Friedman,
Paul Imsee
left to right)



Marilyn and Clare

On Sat. Sept. 5, 2009, I had the honor being the guest homilist and co-celebrating a Celtic liturgy with Fr. Scott Jenkins and the Ecumenical Catholic Communion at Church of the Holy Family in Aurora, Colorado. I shared my story and our RCWP story with the regional council and members of this wonderful, inclusive Catholic community in Longmont and in Aurora. We had a great discussion. I see many similarities between RCWP and ECC as we live emerging models of inclusive ecclesial, grassroots communities rooted in Jesus' example of Gospel equality. I was blessed by our dialogue and by meeting so many faith-filled companions on the journey. I am grateful for the warm hospitality of Sheila and Peter Dierks who hosted me in their home in Boulder, Colorado. Sheila and I co-edited two books on Eucharistic Prayers, Eucharistic Prayers for Inclusive Communities, Vol.1 and Vol.2). She will be ordained a priest in the ECC in less than two weeks. Congratulations and blessings to you, Sheila! You have inspired me by your vision of house churches and your gifts for building community. It was a great joy to visit with my friends, Sharon Friedman, a member of the ECC, and her husband, Paul Imsee. Both Sharon and Paul have been long-time supporters of my GodTalk Ministry. Paul did the legal work to set up our non, profit, GodTalk Foundation.
www.godtalktv.org

Bridget Mary Meehan, rcwp
sofiabmm@aol.com

YouTube Clips of Eucharistic Liturgy;

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ChW73SIgT0

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JlKFLC0EBUohttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6u58u04sq8Q

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q29NkLQAJVM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CEp1x41OEfc

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6u58u04sq8Q

http://www.ecumenical-catholic-communion.org/index.html

www.romancatholicwomenpriests.org

Roman Catholic Womenpriests : Cincinnati archbisop stops nun from teaching because she supports women priests

http://www.columbusdispatch.com/live/content/local_news/stories/2009/09/02/cincy_nun.html?sid=101

Cincinnati archbishop stops nun from teaching because she supports female ordination
"Sister Louise Akers has taught in the archdiocese for 40 years. She says she refused to renounce her support of women priests as a matter of conscience."

Archbishop Pilarczyk's removal of Sr. Louise Akers from teaching in the Archdiocese of Cincinnati is yet another example of the use of deplorable, bullying tactics by church officials. This modern day inquisition is a desperate attempt to silence women from speaking out for justice for women in the Roman Catholic Church. Sister Louise Akers is a faithful woman of faith and a courageous witness to Gospel equality. It is my hope that her prophetic actions will ignite the energies of women religious worldwide to work for justice for women in the church and that religious orders will find a way to support nuns who are called to priestly ministry. The full equality of women in the church is the call of God in our time.
The good news is that women are being ordained in the Roman Catholic Church. The mission of the Roman Catholic Womenpriests' initiative, a movement for the full equality of women in a renewed priestly ministry is to spiritually prepare, ordain and support women and men from all states of life, who are theologically qualified, who are committed to an inclusive model of Church and who are called by the Holy Spirit and their communities to minister to the People of God. It is my hope that many women religious with the support of their communities, and in the spirit of their gutsy foundresses, will come forward for ordination as womenpriests. Sister Louise, you are an inspiration to all of us.
Bridget Mary Meehan, RCWP
sofiabmm@aol.com
703-505-0004

Roman Catholic Womenpriests: Excommunicated priest supports women’s ordination, Maryknoll Order Supports Fr. Roy

http://www.thefloridacatholic.org/cns/2009_articles/20090901_cns_priest_excom.php

Fr. Roy Bourgeois participated in the ordination liturgy of Roman Catholic Womanpriest, Janice Sevre-Duszynska on Aug. 9, 2008. In response, the Vatican excommunicated Father Roy on Nov. 24, 2008 "latae sententiae" automatically for refusing to recant his public support of women's ordination. Adhering to his conscience, Fr. Roy now calls on his brother priests to break the silence and asks Catholics in his coast to coast lectures to support the full equality of women in the church including ordination to the priesthood. Fr. Roy challenges church officials to turn away from the sin of sexism.

Excommunicated priest supports women’s ordination

"In June, Maryknoll Father Edward M. Dougherty, the order’s superior general, said in a statement that Father Bourgeois remains a member of the society despite the excommunication. To no longer be considered a priest, Father Bourgeois would have to be laicized."

“The Maryknoll Society continues its pastoral support of our brother Roy and hopes that the day of reconciliation is not far away,” Father Dougherty said. “The church in its leadership and members has been promised by Christ that the Holy Spirit informs the decisions that carry our church into the future. May that same Holy Spirit enlighten Roy and those interested in his case as well as those charged with authority in our church.”

Roman Catholic Womenpriests : Sr. Louise Akers is a courageous witness to Gospel Equality

"The Vatican's investigation of women religious in the United States and Archbishop Pilarczyk's removal of Sr. Louise Akers from teaching in the Archdiocese of Cincinnati will backfire against the hierarchy. These deplorable, bullying tactics, a modern day Inquisition, by church officials will fail to stop women religious from speaking out for justice for women in the Roman Catholic Church, and will promote the Roman Catholic Womenpriests' initiative, a movement for the full equality for women in a renewed priestly ministry in an inclusive Catholic Church. The Roman Catholic Church cannot continue to discriminate against women and blame God for it.
Sr. Louise Akers' courageous witness to gospel equality is an inspiration to all.
Bridget Mary Meehan, RCWP
sofiabmm@aol.com
703-505-0004

Sister of Charity Louise Akers has been informed by Archbishop Daniel E. Pilarczyk that she must "publicly disassociate herself from the issue of women’s ordination if she wishes to continue making any presentations or teaching for credit in any archdiocesan-related institutions."
“For four decades I have devoted my ministry to advocating on behalf of the marginalized through religious congregations, justice organizations, ecumenical and interfaith groups” Akers told NCR. “Women’s ordination is a justice issue. Its basis is the value, dignity and equality of women. I believe this to my very core. To publicly state otherwise would be a lie and a violation of my conscience. I love, support and cherish the part of Church that upholds the gospel mission and vision of Jesus.”
http://ncronline.org/news/cincinnati-nun-given-ultimatum-over-ordination-views

Roman Catholic Womenpriests : Cincinnati Nun May Be Forced Out For Ordination Views

http://ncronline.org/news/cincinnati-nun-may-be-forced-out-ordination-views
Cincinnati nun may be forced out for ordination views
“We are losing the voice of justice,” said one member of her religious community.
Aug. 31, 2009
By Judy Ball
Sister of Charity Louise Akers has been informed by Archbishop Daniel E. Pilarczyk that she must "publicly disassociate herself from the issue of women’s ordination if she wishes to continue making any presentations or teaching for credit in any archdiocesan-related institutions."
“For four decades I have devoted my ministry to advocating on behalf of the marginalized through religious congregations, justice organizations, ecumenical and interfaith groups” Akers told NCR. “Women’s ordination is a justice issue. Its basis is the value, dignity and equality of women. I believe this to my very core. To publicly state otherwise would be a lie and a violation of my conscience. I love, support and cherish the part of Church that upholds the gospel mission and vision of Jesus.”

Roman Catholic Womenpriests : "A Day of Sorrow for Area Catholics"

A day of sorrow for area Catholics
The Republican - MassLive.com - Springfield,MA,USA
Still others will cite the need for women priests. ... It's also important to remember that the Roman Catholic Diocese of Springfield is not alone in this ...

http://www.masslive.com/opinion/index.ssf/2009/08/a_day_of_sorrow_for_area_catho.html

Roman Catholic Womenpriests : Priest takes church to task for not ordaining women

Boston Globe
Michael Paulson:

Fr. Roy Bourgeois, who participated in Janice Sevre-Duszynska's ordination in Lexington, Kentucky, on Aug. 9, 2008 as a Roman Catholic Womanpriest, calls the institutional church's refusal to ordain women
a “scandal’’ and “spiritual violence.’’

http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2009/08/24/excommunicated_priest_takes_catholic_church_to_task_for_not_ordaining_women

Roman Catholic Womenpriests : Ordinations in Minneapolis on Aug. 16, 2009- 500 attend

August 16, 2009 ordination in Minneapolis, MNPictured left to right: Bishop Regina Nicolosi, Mary Kay Kusner, Mary Smith, Mary Styne, Linda Wilcox, Kathy Redig, Alice Iaquinta



From left - Mary Smith (me) - Linda Wilcox and Mary Styne.
Mary Katherine Kusner from Iowa City was ordained a deacon.
Mary Frances Smith, Mary Suzanne Styne and Linda Ann Wilcox were ordained to the priesthood.
The ordination took place on Sunday, Aug. 16th. at 3:00 PM at First Universalist Church in Minneapolis, MN. Approximately 500 people attended.
Several church reform groups, including Dignity ,MN - CTA, MN and the St. Joan's society and friends and family of the ordained helped with publicity and the reception.


Movie Link: Courtesy Matt Kusner
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c-Sz983N9Dg

Wednesday, August 19, 2009
Article in The Progressive Catholic Voice
Ordination of Women in Minneapolis Reflects Emerging Renewal of Priesthood and Church
By Michael Bayly

http://theprogressivecatholicvoice.blogspot.com/
Excerpt from Bishop Regina Nicolosi's homily from article:
“Can we bring this image down to earth and model our church after it?” asked Bishop Nicolosi. It would be, she said, a church “where we are all one in Christ Jesus; a church where the phrase ‘in persona Christi’ does not exclude half of the population; a church where Mary our sister can be a role model for priesthood. After all, she did say: ‘This is my body, this is my blood, and she said it at least twice: in the stable and under the cross, and no one stopped her from holding and touching Him then.”
Nicolosi concluded her homily by inviting all present to take seriously the words of the Magnificat, and, like Mary, proclaim a God who pushes down the powerful and lifts up the poor, who feeds the hungry, who invites all without exception to her son’s table.”

Roman Catholic Womenpriests : Religious Women Question Vatican Probe

http://ncronline.org/news/religious-women-question-vatican-probe

"The Leadership Conference of Women Religious has asked the Vatican to disclose why it is being investigated and who is funding the probe, and questioned why the sisters will not be allowed to see the final investigative report submitted to church leaders."

American nuns under Vatican Microscope
Mary Hunt

http://www.religiondispatches.org/archive/religionandtheology/1766/american_nuns_under_the_vatican_microscope?page=entire

Roman Catholic Womenpriests: Mary Mother of Jesus Catholic Community/N.VA. Celebration of Mary's Feast: Aug. 15th Assumption

On Sat. Aug. 15th, Mary Mother of Jesus Catholic Community celebrated an inclusive, joyful liturgy in honor of the the Blessed Mother on the feast of the Assumption in Falls Church, VA. Peg Bowen, assisted by her husband Bob and friend Donna Mogan designed the environment with beautiful plants, table cloths from her wedding day reception, "a holy water well", the placement of the pastoral staff within the community setting to symbolize the shared pastoral responsibility for fostering community and caring for one another. Peg and Donna presented the gifts. recited the offertory prayers.
Andrea Johnson, bishop of the Eastern Region of RCWP and I (Bridget Mary Meehan), bishop of the Southern Region of RCWP co-presided. The community shared insights and stories about Mary's role in their spiritual journey in a dialogue homily. Several people said that they think RCWP is a prophetic movement in the Roman Catholic Church for which they are deeply grateful . After communion, each person took a small bottle of holy water that came from our "holy well" that I brought back from a holy well in Ireland.
On Aug. 15th, in Ireland thousands of people visit holy wells and fill containers with water for use during the year. In County Laois, where I was born, a large crowd gathers at Lady Well at Ballinkill for a festive celebration. The Ballyroan band plays the music. My Dad who was a member of this band, played the Lourdes hymn, Amazing Grace, When the saints go marching in on the trumpet for our celebration in Falls Church. The community continued the festivities until after dark.

You tube movie clips of Mary, Mother of Jesus Catholic Community/Falls Church liturgy on Aug. 15, 2009:

Clip of Presentation of Gifts by Donna Mogan and Peg Bowen and Eucharistic Prayer:
Clip of Presenation of Gifts, setting banquet table, Eucharistic Prayer:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A4Vj_B52hIA

Responsorial Psalm read by Julie Taylor


Gospel read by Bishop Andrea Johnson:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cAsq6YJCyAs


Clip from homily of Bishop Bridget Mary Meehan
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MMruXcPXYiI

Holy Well Ritual
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=itDymW6GlDE

Recessional Hymn: Jack Meehan plays Amazing Grace
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gGyNe0muW34

Blessing of trees with water from holy wells in Ireland led by Peg Bowen
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L27gp-lQxQo

Bridget Mary Meehan

Roman Catholic Womenpriests : "Under Fire Women Religious Leaders Gather in New Orleans" article on NCR Online

"Sister of Notre Dame de Namur Mary Daniel Turner, long respected for her scholarship and thoughtful perspectives on religious life, said tensions between the Vatican and the women religious of America date back at least to the 1950s “when we [the congregations] began to see we shared a common vision. 'At the heart it is hard for Rome to understand us as moral agents in our own right.'”
http://ncronline.org/news/women/under-fire-women-religious-leaders-gather-new-orleans
It is my hope that the Leadership Conference of Women Relgious refuses to participate in their own oppression. How can anyone submit to a report that reflects an abuse of power that is not transparent and accountable to the people of God? Mother Clare's report goes directly to the Vatican. Neither the sisters, nor their leaders even sees it.
Sounds like a return to the Inquisition to me, Sisters. We need your prophetic voices to speak truth to power as you have so often done in your past history.
Bridget Mary Meehan

Roman Catholic Womenpriests : "A World of our Own:-It's time for a democratic church" link to video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cwrYFN7_8C8

Enjoy this youtube video of Pope Benedict and hierarchy in the Vatican. Be prepared, womenpriests make two cameo appearances!!!

Looks like Roman Catholic Womenpriests have cracked the clerical glass ceiling in the imagination of Catholics who seek renewal in our beloved faith community!
Bridget Mary Meehan

Roman Catholic Womenpriests : "Nunsense" article in salon.com by Frances Kissling

Nunsense by Frances Kissling

"While LCWR itself beats a moderate path and tries to stay out of trouble with the Vatican, the sisters who are members believe they can ask questions. Like why can't I be a priest? Shouldn't LGBT folks have civil rights and be able to get married? What would Jesus want of us in these areas of life?"
http://www.salon.com/mwt/broadsheet/feature/2009/04/16/vatican_nuns/index.html

Roman Catholic Womenpriests : Homily by Roman Catholic Womenpriest- Judy Lee at Lamb of God Church in Estero, Florida

This is a live stream of the 9:00am Awesome Grace service from Lamb of God Church in Estero FL.
Roman Catholic Womanpriest: Judy Lee was the guest homilist.
Enjoy and be inspired!
http://www.ustream.tv/recorded/1954274

Roman Catholic Womenpriests : "Louisville priest has chosen another path" Article in The Courier-Journal

Louisville priest has 'chosen another path'
By PETER SMITH - The Courier-Journal

LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- When he was a 25-year-old novice in a Roman Catholic religious order, Lawman Chibundi was assigned to work in the remote Kalahari Desert in Botswana, Africa, where his novice master advised: "Before you get there, remember - God is already there."
A decade later, Chibundi says he has been repeating that message to himself as he undergoes another, very different journey.

http://www.kentucky.com/471/story/889357.html

Roman Catholic Womenpriests : NCR Online Article by Janice Sevre-Duszynska

http://ncronline.org/news/women/conscience-led-me-ordination-woman-priest

"Roy participated in my ordination Mass. He celebrated the Eucharist with me, the other women priests and the woman bishop who ordained me. He laid hands on me in blessing after I was ordained.

In his homily Roy said, "It is our conscience that compels us to be here today. How can we speak out against the injustice of our country's foreign policy in Latin America and Iraq if we are silent about the injustice of our church here at home?"

Roman Catholic Womenpriests : Reflections on the Year of the Priests by Fr. Jan Larson

Date: Friday, August 7, 2009, 7:20 AM

REFLECTIONS ON THE YEAR OF THE PRIESTS
By Fr. Jan Larson, North Bend, WA

I read the pope's letter to priests beginning the special Year, and his audience
talks around the topic. He is clearly excited about St. John Vianney, whose
piety and approach to pastoral ministry I won't be adopting any time soon. His
"hear confessions till you drop" spirituality is an insult to anything we
believe today about healthy ministry, and his famous dialogues with the Devil
excludes him from my personal list of inspirational priests. Give me Oscar
Romero any day.

I suggest that 'The year of the Priest' include a symposium to help priests face
the problem issues of today's priesthood. Retreats and trips to France are nice
ideas, but are really distractions from the critical, even life threatening,
issues that confront the contemporary priesthood and healthy ministry. Ten
issues, as I identify them:

1. The shortage of priests, said to be irreversible. The band-aid solutions
(inviting often unequipped foreign priests to the U.S. and raising retirement
age, etc.) are not the answer. We can't continue to keep mandatory celibacy
unchallenged, which by every measure is doing much more harm to the church and
to individuals than it is doing good. Ordination of deacons must be discussed,
as well as ordination of married men, and the reality that many resigned priests
are willing to exercise their priesthood for the good of the church.

2. That many priests do not perceive themselves to be the closest collaborators
with their bishops that they are supposed to be. The last time a bishop
sincerely asked my opinion about anything was in 1997.

3. The feeling that we priests have been betrayed by our bishops by their
knee-jerk passage of the Dallas Charter. Now priests who commit even the
slightest offense are treated the same as a serial rapist. Why didn't we learn
from the way the religious orders handled this mess? They begin their
investigation process with charity, while the bishops begin with the appearance
of presumed guilt and immediate removal from ministry. Meanwhile many accused
religious order priests continue their ministry in some form. They are not
automatically banished, because the gospels and charity would not allow this.

So many priests are also discouraged to see that many bishops who were
responsible for silence and cover-ups are not held accountable. Why doesn't the
Dallas charter apply to bishops? The Vatican remains silent, and, of course, the
bishops refuse to demand accountability from their fellow bishops. Bishops owe
us an apology in The Year of the Priest.

4. The growing rift between the "Vatican II priests and the "John Paul priests."
We even ritually celebrate this rift at Priests' Days. When we gather for the
eucharist, the "orthodox" priests are ritually set aside so they can stand out.
What is not seen are the hidden resentments on both sides. Seeing this sort of
division in the assembly, St. Paul could well insist that we are guilty of
abusing the eucharist, beginning with the bishop who could end this, but prefers
to remain silent.

5. The problems and challenges that necessarily accompany the increasingly
disproportionate gay priesthood. In particular the heterosexual candidates who
feel dislocated in largely gay seminary structures, and who consequently leave.
This elephant in the room, as well as some of the other elephants I list, is so
well treated by Fr. Donald Cozzens in his The Changing Face of the Priesthood.
It is unfortunate that his excellent book was not made the topic of Priests'
Days when it was published nearly ten years ago. Another missed opportunity.

6. The return of clericalism. There is more to this than a fascination with
cassocks and birettas and using antiquated rituals and vestments. The insidious
side appears when it infects preaching, and when priests begin to ignore the
parish consultative structures that are supposed to be in place in every parish.
The "Father knows best" days are returning with a gallop.

7. The evangelization problem. Many baptized people don't bother going to
church, as our last Priests' Days speakers explained, because their experiences
with the institutional church are negative. I know many of these people. The
baptized will continue to leave and go to church elsewhere as long as there is
the nasty perception that the church treats women as second class citizens, gays
as second class citizens, divorced people as second class citizens, and anyone
who dissents about any church teaching or policy is crushed with a heavy hand.
Also many former practicing Catholics are convinced that the church is
preoccupied with sex, which, of course, it is. (see some of St. John Vianneys'
obsessions below, as described in one of his wonderful biographies.)*

8. Resigned priests. These people, by Vatican policy, are treated like traitors.
But they are an obvious answer to our prayers for more priests in our parishes.
During The Year of the Priest the pope and bishops who are mean to these people
should apologize and set up dialogue structures so that the ministry of these
priests can be used for the good of the church.

9. Confidence in bishops. Under the last two popes the bishops have assumed the
pre-Vatican II role as puppets of the Vatican. They seem to many priests to be
frightened men who dare not speak out about anything other than abortion. They
are the taillights of the church, instead of the headlights. And everyone else
suffers the consequences. For instance, the bishops, with tails between their
legs, voted to impose an even more mediocre translation of the words we use to
pray together at liturgy. They should have raised hell, and vigorously protested
the power grab instigated by Vatican bureaucrats. They should have refused to be
emasculated by meddling committees of largely non-Americans.

10. So many older priests are heard saying, "I can't wait for retirement." Why
do they say this? Why this sense of surrender, of hopelessness?


St. John Vianney
* The Saint on the dangers of women: "Alas, my dear brethren, how little purity
is known in the world; how little we value it; what little care we take to
preserve it; what little zeal we have in asking God for it, since we cannot have
it of ourselves.

No, my dear brethren, it is not known to those notorious and seasoned libertines
who wallow in and trail through the slime of their depravities, whose hearts are
.... roasted and burned by an impure fire .... [sentence incomplete - Trans.]
Alas, very far from seeking to extinguish it, they do not cease to inflame it
and to stir it up by their glances, their desires, and their actions. What state
will such a soul be in when it appears before its God! Purity!



"No, my dear brethren, this beautiful virtue is not known by such a person whose
lips are but an opening and a supply pipe which Hell uses to vomit its
impurities upon the earth and who subsists upon these as upon his daily bread.
Alas! That poor soul is only an object of horror in Heaven and on earth! No, my
dear brethren, this gracious virtue of purity is not known to those young men
whose eyes and hands are defiled by glances and .... [sentence incomplete -
Trans.] Oh God, how many souls does this sin drag down to Hell! .... No, my dear
brethren, this beautiful virtue is not known to those worldly and corrupt girls
who make so many preparation s and take so many cares to draw the eyes of the
world towards themselves, who by their affected and indecent dress announce
publicly that they are evil instruments which Hell makes use of to ruin souls --
those souls which cost so much in labors and tears and torments to Jesus Christ!
....

"Look at them, these unfortunates, and you will see that a thousand devils
surround their heads and their breasts. Oh, my God, how can the earth support
such servants of Hell? An even more astounding thing to understand is how their
mothers endure them in a state unworthy of a Christian! If I were not afraid of
going too far, I would tell those mothers that they are worth no more than their
daughters.



"Alas! This sinful heart and those impure eyes are but sources of poison which
bring death to anyone who looks at or listens to them. How do such monsters of
iniquity dare to present themselves before a God Who is so holy and so set
against impurity! Alas! Their poor lives are nothing but an accumulation of fuel
which they amass to increase the flames of Hell through all eternity..."

On the dangers of dancing: "Even more strenuous, if possible, were his efforts
in bringing about a suppression of dancing-an amusement to which the people were
passionately addicted but which the Saint knew only too well to be a very hotbed
of sin." The Cure of Ars (St. Jean Marie Baptiste Vianney), by Dom E rnest
Graf


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