Media Advisory: Fr. Roy Bourgeois and Women Priests' Supporters Go to Rome- Press Conference on Monday, Oct. 17th, 2011; Italian Premiere-"Pink Smoke"

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: October 10, 2011
Contact: Erin Saiz Hanna – 202. 675. 1006, Mobile in Rome (10/16-10/20) - 401.588.0457
ehanna@womensordination.org

MEDIA ADVISORY

Fr. Roy Bourgeois and pro-women’s ordination delegation to hold press conference; march to Vatican to deliver petition signed by 15,000 supporters

WHAT: Press conference, followed by march to St. Peter’s Square

WHEN: Monday, October 17th, 2011 @ 12:00 PM
Press are invited to attend the Italian Premiere of Pink Smoke Over the Vatican at 11:00 AM, just prior to the press conference*

WHERE: CASA DEL CINEMA (Sala Kodak) - Largo Marcello Mastroianni, 1 Ingresso da Piazzale del Brasile, Parcheggio di Villa Borghese – Roma

WHO:

Fr. Roy Bourgeois, Roman Catholic priest, peace activist and founder of the human rights group School of the Americas Watch. Fr. Bourgeois currently faces dismissal from his Maryknoll order for his support of women’s ordination.

Erin Saiz Hanna, Women’s Ordination Conference (USA), Women's Ordination Worldwide (International)

Nicole Sotelo, Call To Action (USA), U.S. Representative of the International Movement We Are Church (International)

Janice Sevre-Duszynska, Ordained Roman Catholic Woman Priest (USA)

Therese Korturbash, Catholic Network For Women’s Equality (Canada), Women's Ordination Worldwide (International)

Miriam Duignan, WomenPriests.org (International)

Dr. Dorothy Irvin, renowned scholar on women's ordination in the early church


* Pink Smoke Over the Vatican is an award-winning documentary film about the controversial movement of women seeking ordination in the Roman Catholic Church.

Bridget Mary's Reflection:

I can't wait to share the photos and movies of this upcoming event! Can you imagine some of the Vatican Prelates attending "Pink Smoke Over the Vatican"?

Let's hope that representatives from the Sacred Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith meet with Fr. Roy and his lawyer, Fr. Tom Doyle, who has put together a brilliant defense rooted in "primacy of conscience". Thousands of Catholics have signed petitions in support of Roy.

The Maryknoll Order should not only affirm their brother Roy, but challenge the Vatican for pressuring them to dismiss this faithful, courageous priest. Isn't it sad that pedophiles and the bishops who kept them in ministry are not excommunicated or thrown out of their orders or dioceses, but prophetic priests like Fr. Roy, are shown the door!

No matter what the Vatican or Maryknoll do, Fr. Roy Bourgeois will always be a priest of the people and a prophet of justice.

Now we are at a tipping point as more and more male priests and bishops join Fr. Roy- 400 Austrian priests, a growing number of French priests, the Irish Association of Priests, the Australian Priests' Association and over 250 German -speaking theologians. (A Cardinal from Portugal, bishops from Switzerland, Ireland and Australia are also on record as open to women priests.)

Roman Catholic Women Priests are a "holy shakeup" rocking the Catholic Church. We are creating a grassroots, inclusive, open church that welcomes all- like Jesus did.Yes, indeed, it is revolution, rooted in Jesus' vision of Gospel equality.

Bridget Mary Meehan, ARCWP
Association of Roman Catholic Women Priests
www.associationofromancatholicwomenpriests.org
sofiabmm@aol.com