Donna Rougeux, Janice Sevre Duszynska,
Ree Hudson, and Fr. Roy Celebrate Liturgy
on rooftop overlooking the Vatican/St. Peter's Basilica.
Photo courtesy of WOC- available on http://woc.smugmug.com/Spirituality/WOC-in-Rome-October-2011/19591699_XBXwSg#1534990335_jxJxLN3-A-LBB
During this week in Rome, Maryknoll Fr. Roy Bourgeois had meetings with high-level Vatican officials. Fr. Roy shared with me today that these conversations were open and positive. Stay tuned for the next chapter in this powerful story of a prophetic, priest of the people, who speaks truth to power in a loving non-threatening way.
Thanks to Women's Ordination Conference and Call to Action for all they have done to promote justice for women in the church. (Special thanks to Erin Hanna, Kate Conmy of WOC, and to Nicole Sotelo and Bob Heineman of CTA, and to Miriam Duigan of Womenpriests.org) The smug mug photos provided by WOC are great! Thanks for sharing this piece of history with us.
Roman Catholic Women Priests, while not allowed in St. Peter's Square, by Police, were not arrested or detained by police. Perhaps, the Vatican did not want the negative publicity as a number of people have said. It is my hope that we have begun a healing process of centuries old misogyny in which spiritual power was invested exclusively in men. Fr. Roy Bourgeois's prophetic witness is a challenge to the deeply ingrained sexism in our church. I believe that women in vestments are visible reminders that women are equal images of God, therefore are worthy to preside at the altar. We are offering the church a new pathway forward to a more open, people-empowered, Christ-centered,inclusive church in our grassroots communities now. The good news is that 200 U.S. priests have signed a petition supporting Fr. Roy's right to speak his conscience. Primacy of conscience is a major teaching of the church. In July the Austrian -based Initiative of 300 Parish Priests announced a campaign of resistance that supports women and married men in the priesthood. Over 250 German theologians as well as the Irish Priests Association have followed suit. This week the Vatican got a glimpse of representatives of the women priest movement up close on its own doorstep. We have heard stories of support and openess even from officials in the Vatican! Let us hope that we are on our way to critical mass. There are over 148 media stories including programs airing on Italian and BBC television. The story of Fr. Roy Bourgeois and the Roman Catholic Women Priests Movement has been broadcast all over the world this week. The "Fr. Roy goes to Rome Story" is now available 24-7 on google and social media! Check out great pictures on smug mug.(link on WOC site) Let us pray for open hearts and open minds. Let us stay open to the Spirit moving in our midst.
Bridget Mary Meehan, ARCWP
Association of Roman Catholic Women Priests
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