*With gratitude to Christopher White, he author of this encounter with Pope Francis on a flight returning from the Persian Gulf on Nov. 6th, that was published in the National Catholic Reporter. See my unofficial dialogue with Pope Francis in blue. Bridget Mary Meehan ARCWP, arcwp.org
Pope Francis: "Pope Francis, returning from a four-day visit to the Persian Gulf on Nov. 6, gave an impassioned defense of women's rights, strongly condemning the practice of female genital mutilation and decrying those who treat women as 'second class citizens.'"
Bridget Mary: It is heart-warming to hear that Pope Francis is promoting women's rights in the world. I pray that now he will have the courage to take bold steps to change the misogynist theology ,laws structures and practices that treat Roman Catholic women as second class citizens in their own Church.
Pope Francis: A society unable to value women, the pontiff told journalists in a press conference aboard his flight back to Rome from Bahrain, "is a society that will not progress."
Bridget Mary: A Church that does not value women as equals will not progress.
Pope Francis: "I ask myself, why does a woman have to fight for her rights?," Francis asked aloud.
Bridget Mary's Response: The Vatican has done everything possible to stop the international Roman Catholic Women Priests Movement- including placing women priests in the same "serious crime" category with pedophiles priests and imposing the harshest punishment of all- excommunication.
Pope Francis: "The pope also cited his own record of naming more women to head Vatican offices, saying that things improved each time a woman took over a Vatican office. Although the Vatican is still largely led by male clerics, Francis has appointed women to positions of leadership at the Vatican Museums, the Vatican's office for the Synod of Bishops, and at the Dicastery for Laity, Family and Life, among other places."
Bridget Mary:I am grateful that women are making a difference in their role as leaders in the Vatican.
Since the ordination of 7 women on the Danube, Roman Catholic Women Priests have been living a new model of priestly ministry in inclusive communities of equals. We are creating a "big tent Church where all are equal, all are loved and all are invited to receive Eucharist and the other sacraments including those who have been marginalized by the institutional RC Church- the divorced and remarried, LGBTQI and women who are treated as second class citizens in their own Church.
Pope Francis: "The key is dialogue," ...the Catholic community is undergoing a synodal process that is exploring a number of controversial questions such as women's ordination and blessings for LGBTQ couples — to listen to the "holy people of God" and to prioritize evangelization."
Bridget Mary: I appreciate the desire of Francis for an open dialogue with the people of God on some formerly taboo topics especially women's ordination.
I believe that the Spirit is speaking through Pope Francis and through our worldwide prophetic RCWP movement that ordains women for public ministry in the Church in order to foster the full equality of women in all ministries in the Church.
Women Priests are ready for an open, respectful dialogue with Pope Francis. I hope Pope Francis is too!
Bridget Mary Meehan -Association of Roman Catholic Women Priests
Contact information: sofiabmm.bmm@gmail.com
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