Historic Ordination of women priests in Sarasota, Florida
"...In the case of Father Bourgeois, the priest who is calling for the ordination of women, Call to Action has sponsored his 34-city speaking tour, called “Shattering The Stained Glass Ceiling,” which will conclude in September in downstate Belleville.
The Vatican maintains that even discussion of ordaining women is a violation of Catholic teaching. The authorities of the Maryknoll Order, based in New York, sent a letter to Father Bourgeois in March demanding that he recant his public statements or be dismissed from its ranks.
The petition drive sponsored by Call to Action defends the priest’s “right to speak his conscience.” The list was restricted to “priests in good standing,” said Bob Heineman, one of the group’s leaders, so that church authorities could not dismiss the protesters as “renegades.” The Chicago group contends that surveys show that more rank-and-file Catholics side with Father Bourgeois on church policies than with the Vatican. “What it all boils down to is who is the church?” Mr. Heineman said. “The hierarchy? Or the people?”
The Vatican maintains that even discussion of ordaining women is a violation of Catholic teaching. The authorities of the Maryknoll Order, based in New York, sent a letter to Father Bourgeois in March demanding that he recant his public statements or be dismissed from its ranks.
The petition drive sponsored by Call to Action defends the priest’s “right to speak his conscience.” The list was restricted to “priests in good standing,” said Bob Heineman, one of the group’s leaders, so that church authorities could not dismiss the protesters as “renegades.” The Chicago group contends that surveys show that more rank-and-file Catholics side with Father Bourgeois on church policies than with the Vatican. “What it all boils down to is who is the church?” Mr. Heineman said. “The hierarchy? Or the people?”
Bridget Mary's Reflection:
Roman Catholic Women Priests and the communities we serve are shattering the glass ceiling now. Fr. Roy Bourgeois, who attended Janice Sevre-Duszynska's ordination in Lexington, Kentucky three years ago has had a major impact on both people and priests across the country as he shared his story of support for women's ordination. For Fr. Roy, it is simple and tragic. Sexism, like racism,is always a sin.
Now the big news in 2011 is that more male priests in the U.S. and Austria are going public with their support. So are theologians, bishops in Australia and Switzerland and even a cardinal from Portugal. The holy shakeup has begun and the Vatican is powerless to stop it! Catholics are ready for women priests now! We are getting calls from enthusiastic Catholics who are looking for female priest led liturgies. A new day has dawned for equality for women in the church!
Bridget Mary Meehan, ARCWP
Association of Roman Catholic Women Priests
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