Association of Roman Catholic Women Priests Media Response to “Evangelii Gaudium” and the role of women in the Roman Catholic Church

Release date: Wednesday, November 27, 2013

Contact:  Janice Sevre-Duszynska, D.Min. (Media), 859-684-4247, rhythmsofthedance@gmail.com

Bishop Bridget Mary Meehan, 703-505-0004, sofiabmm@aol.com

 

See: bridgetmarys.blogspot.com

www.arcwp.org

 

In “Evangelii Gaudium” (The Joy of the Gospel) Pope Francis rightly criticizes economic injustice and global inequality but fails to recognize the full equality of women in the church as a serious justice issue.  Presently, decision-making is tied to Ordination. Does Pope Francis intend to change church law and open the top jobs in the Vatican and elsewhere in the church to women?  That would be progress, a major step in the right direction.

 

Until women are ordained as priests by the institutional church, they will not be partners and equals in the Catholic Church.  Jesus chose women as disciples and equals in the Gospel. The Risen Christ appeared first to Mary of Magdala, not to Peter, and called her to be the apostle to the apostles. Therefore, Pope Francis and the hierarchy of the Catholic Church should follow Jesus’ example of Gospel equality. For 1200 years, women were ordained in the Catholic Church. Now the church is blessed with women priests who are serving inclusive faith communities where all are welcome to receive the sacraments.

 

As we approach Human Rights Day on December 10^th, we remind our brother priests at the Vatican that the failure to recognize women's equal rights in the church contributes to oppression and violence toward women in our world community.

http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/francesco/apost_exhortations/documents/papa-francesco_esortazione-ap_20131124_evangelii-gaudium_en.html