Roman Catholic Womenpriests Love and Serve Our Church despite Vatican and Hierarchy's Disapproval

"Francis of Assisi: A Model for Human Liberation" by Leonardo Boff.

Leonardo Boff discusses the reasons Francis did not leave the Church despite its persecution of his vision and practice of simple, transparent Gospel living without the burden of man-made, burdensome, unnecessary rules.

Boff explains: "When someone is evangelic and puts up even with the persecution on the part of the Church in the spirit of the Beatitudes, remaining united to it and loving it, then there is no way of excluding him or her from the ecclesial community, just as there is no way of stopping him or her from renovation and innovation within the Church."

This gives me hope as a Roman Catholic Womenpriest who loves our church. We, in the Roman Catholic Womanpriest initiative, are living the Gospel of Jesus who called women and men to be apostles and disciples, and who criticized and disobeyed the rules of Judaism. Jesus healed on the Sabbath and touched and healed women who, according to the Law, were considered unclean. Like Jesus, Roman Catholic Womenpriests are disobeying an unjust, man-made law that discriminates against women. Like Francis of Assissi, we offer the church a charism that is rejected by the institutional church. Roman Catholic Womenpriests are offering the gift of an inclusive, welcoming, Christ-centered, Spirit-empowered Catholic church ,united with the people with whom we serve and whom we serve. In grassroots communities, the church is being renewed now. Nothing can separate us from Christ or from our beloved church, and nothing will stop a renewed priestly ministry and the renewal of the church that is now a reality in our midst in more and more places as we continue to grow. Roman Catholic Womenpriests are walking on water, keeping our eyes on Christ who is leading the way.
Bridget Mary Meehan