Human rights education must be compulsory for school children if we are to address violence against women throughout the world. “Physics, chemistry, literature… these are not enough, otherwise professors would not molest their students,” Talat Fasha emphasized on the panel, “Girl Child to Mature Woman, eradicating violence against women” sponsored by the Soroptimist International World Young Women’s Christian Association. In the pews of the Salvation Army 52nd Street auditorium, this is just one of the nearly three hundred and sixty Parallel Events put on by non-governmental organizations (NGOs) during the 57th gathering of the Commission on the Status of Women at the United Nations Headquarters in New York.
Source: www.soroptimistinternational.org
Kate Brady Kean of New Zealand placed a chair in front of the all-women audience of nearly eighty: “We know the concept of ‘chair’ contextually, based on our particular space, time, place; we know when to sit, when to offer our chair to another person based on learned customs.” Just as one knows ‘chair,’ Kean points out, “we grow up being told what “woman” is: “This language has been given to us,” she said, “based on tradition, culture, and family.” So it is the work of those who hope to eradicate violence against women to provide more information, to add dimension and dignity to what “woman” is and can be.
Outside U.N. Headquarters in New York
Women’s empowerment through education includes making violence against women a public and visible issue, with more visible resources. Often women recognize the violence and injustice but do not know where to go for help. The panel urged the women in the audience to keep the pressure on and talk loudly in the face of violence and the systems that allow violence. “We are organized and we are angry” felt true in that moment, knowing just how many women’s groups and interests were represented in lower Manhattan that morning. Fasha left us with sense of solidarity so desperately needed in this work: “Courage is contagious.” With social media resources, “citizen media” and “citizen reporting” have given louder voices, and most importantly, community to those who do speak out.
Representing St. Joan’s International Alliance, a sister organization of WOC, working for women’s ordination in the Catholic Church, I couldn’t help but relate these words to the education of the Catholic hierarchy, a traditionally educated and privileged group of men who exploit gaps in their own education to abuse children and the people of God. The learning and un-learning of the Catholic hierarchy on sexual abuse, women’s rights, and the proper resources for those suffering from pedophilia presents an opportunity for great humbleness. While I pray courage is contagious, Catholics especially know that courage to speak out against injustice (both within and outside their official Ranks) is less than prized in the eyes of the Vatican, often grounds for excommunication or dismissal. A chair is a chair is a chair, is a hard lesson to unlearn that threatens so-called divine structures and tradition.
While flocks of men will gather in Rome to choose the next Pope, a very different meeting will be held at the same time in New York at the United Nations Headquarters.
From March 4-15, the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) sessions will bring together representatives of U.N. Member States to evaluate progress on gender equality, identify challenges, set global standards and formulate concrete policies to promote gender equality and advancement of women worldwide. The two-week session will include a high-level round table, interactive dialogues and panels, and parallel events. The sessions will focus on the Primary Theme of the elimination and prevention of all forms of violence against women and girls.
The irony is not lost on those who know how powerful the Roman Catholic hierarchy is and can be in influencing women’s lives around the world. Luckily, the Women’s Ordination Conference will bear witness at (or just outside!) both meetings.
The Women’s Ordination Conference will join Saint Joan’s International Alliance (SJIA) in presenting a Parallel Event panel on the topic: Violence Against Women: Will the Churches Help?: “Our churches present themselves as dedicated models and teachers of compassionate and ethical behavior. They usually have stable administrations in place and a cohesive membership. They are self-funded, or in some countries are subsidized by the government. Will they implement their own best teachings?” Saint Joan’s has held Special Consultative Status at the U.N. since 1971, and is the world’s oldest women’s ordination organization, founded in London in 1911.
Commission on the Status of Women
A global policy-making body, the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) is a functional commission of the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), dedicated exclusively to the promotion of gender equality and the advancement of women. Every year, representatives of Member States gather in New York to evaluate progress on gender equality, identify challenges, set global standards and formulate concrete policies to promote gender equality and advancement of women worldwide. Read more about CSW
Non-governmental (NGO), non-profit, public or voluntary organizations may formally contribute to the work of the United Nations after being granted consultative status with the Economic and Social Council under Article 71 of the Charter of the United Nations and on Economic and Social Council Resolution 1996/31. There are over 3,500 NGOs in consultative status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) and over 23,000 other NGOs working with the United Nations overall. These accredited organizations may participate in meetings of the Council and its subsidiary bodies, including the functional commissions, in accordance with the rules of procedure of those bodies.
Saint Joan’s International Alliance
Saint Joan’s International Alliance seeks to “ensure that the practical equality of rights between women and men is recognized in all fields and on all continents.” It is the only Catholic feminist organization that is recognized by both the U.N. and the Vatican (as an associate member of’ the Conference of International Catholic Organizations). SJIA focuses its efforts on promoting U.N. Resolutions throughout all of its programming, research, and publicity, especially the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), of which the United States and the Holy See have not ratified. SJIA continues to lobby the Holy See to accede the Convention for the Suppression of the Traffic in Persons and of the Exploitation of the Prostitution of Others. Under the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, SJIA campaigns against female genital mutilation; denounces Rome’s obscurantism with regard to population problem and family planning; and lobbies for women’s rights education courses in African nations. Read more about the History of Saint Joan’s International Alliance.
Please look for updates from WOC’s Membership Director, Kate Conmy, at the U.N. here at The Table, and sign up on Twitter to follow @OrdainWomen for live tweets from Parallel Events. #CSW2013
On January 19, 2013, Shannon T.L. Kearns will be ordained as a priest in the North American Old Catholic Church in Minneapolis, MN. Shannon is the blogger known as the Anarchist Reverend, the convener and founding pastor of the House of the Transfiguration, and is poised to be the first transgender priest ordained in the NAOCC. Shannon was gracious enough to talk with me about his journey to Catholicism and ordained ministry from his evangelical roots.
Shannon Kearns. Credit: Alison Killeen.
Growing up with the label “girl” limits your options in any patriarchal religion. Like many little Catholic girls, Shannon learned early on what your place will be if you are called to ministry an inhabit a female body. “I grew up in a fundamentalist evangelical church. While there was a lot about the church that I loved, I never really felt like I fit in. When I hit Junior High I felt a very strong call to serve the church in some way. I wanted to be a part of making the church more welcoming to people. As someone who lived the first part of my life being perceived as female, I was told from a very young age that I could never be in ministry except to, maybe, teach Sunday school. I definitely could not be a pastor.”
Shannon received his undergraduate degree in youth ministry, and spent the first three years after that working as a youth minister in a church where he felt he had to remain closeted. After taking a year off to discern his next steps. Shannon still felt the call to ministry, and was accepted to Union Theological Seminary in New York. After earning his Master of Divinity, Shannon began to discern where he could best respond to his call to ordained ministry.
Like many seekers, Shannon explored and worked in different denominations, including the United Methodist, American Baptist, and United Church of Christ. These denomination were “a better fit theologically, but I still felt something was missing for me,” Shannon recalls. What was missing was the Catholic tradition. “In the Catholic tradition I found the mix of radical politics and deep, contemplative faith that I had been really longing for,” he says. Luminaries such as Dorothy Day and the Berrigan brothers, the monastic traditions, and the ritual of Catholic liturgy all played a role in calling Shannon to Catholicism. However, he knew the barriers he would face if he sought ordination in the Roman Catholic Church as a transgender man.
The Spirit, however, works in mysterious ways. While preparing for ordination in a mainline Protestant tradition, Shannon found the North American Old Catholic Church – on Twitter: “I was pursuing ordination in a mainline congregation, even though it didn’t feel like the exact right fit, it seemed like one of the only options I had to fulfill my calling to ministry. I found the Old Catholics on Twitter of all places! The presiding Archbishop, Michael Seneco reached out to me to see if I could help get the word out about the North American Old Catholic Church and the fact that they ordain transgender people. The more we talked about the NAOCC, the more I felt like it would be a good fit for my own calling and ministry.” For those who are unfamiliar with the North American Old Catholic Church (NAOCC), it is an independent Catholic church not in communion with Rome. The NAOCC ordains those who are called regardless of gender or gender identity, marital or partnership status, or sexual orientation. Shannon says, “Finally it was a place where I could serve as ALL of who I am, embrace the ritual I was coming to love, and be a part of a church that had nurtured and challenged the people who nurtured and challenged me in my own life of faith.”
Oh his journey to priestly ordination, Shannon chose to have his diaconate ordination at the Philadelphia Transgender Health Conference, the largest free conference on transgender issues in the United States. Why chose this venue for an ordination? “We chose to have the ordination at the conference to let people know that the NAOCC exists and that they ordain transgender people,” Shannon says. “So many trans* folks have felt cast out of their religious communities or feel a calling to ministry but aren’t sure how to have that calling be fulfilled. The Philadelphia Transgender Health Conference is the largest, free trans* conference in the United States and so it made sense to have it there as a public witness. It was a small group that attended the ordination, but I heard from several people how moving it was for them to be there; to feel like they were welcome at the table.” What about folks who weren’t there for the ordination? It’s a funny story, according to Shannon: “upstairs in the convention center Comic Con was taking place. So when the priests and Bishop showed up in their robes they didn’t seem out of place at all! I think a lot of people figure they were there for Comic Con and not for the health conference!” When asked if he thinks his gender identity and journey to the priesthood will influence the kind of priest he will be, Shannon replies, “I definitely think that my own process of feeling unwelcome in the church influences what kind of a Priest I am. I know what it’s like to be told that I don’t belong or that I am not the ‘right kind’ of Christian or Catholic. Because of that I am more sensitive to others who feel like they want to worship God but are leery of the church.”
Deacon Kearns with Archbishop Michael Seneco
Shannon blogs at Anarchist Reverend (http://anarchistreverend.com/) where he blogs about his work, theology, and issues of gender identity and sexuality. I asked him about the seeming contradiction of embracing both the philosophy of Christian anarchy and ordained ministry. He responded that “Honestly this has been one of the biggest paradoxes for me. I am influenced by Christian anarchist thought including Leo Tolstoy, Jacques Ellul, and Dorothy Day which says, basically, that the world works best when everyone is equal and everyone helps to take care of each other. It is that mutuality that so attracts me to anarchist thought. Anarchism is generally anti-heirarchy which means that many would say my ordination as a priest is a violation of my anarchist principles. I understand it more that I am being ordained to a specific role. Meaning that I am called to walk with people, to help them create rituals that mark time and bring meaning to their lives, to help facilitate worship where they can experience God, and to preach and teach the Gospel. Those are the things I feel called to do, and those are also the things I have been trained to do.” What about gendered titles for ministers, such as “Father”? For Shannon, “Speaking for myself, as someone who is binary identified, feeling very strongly that I am simply male, I actually really appreciate being called ‘Father.’ It seems to be an affirmation of my gender identity in a very profound way. It feels right. I do think, though, that that is not always the case for people and there should be a gender-neutral option available.”
After his ordination, Shannon will be launching a new worship community in Minneapolis, the House of the Transfiguration (http://houseofthetransfiguration.com/). Shannon’s inspiration for this community is, “to create a community that combines the ancient rituals of Catholicism with a modern practice. The kind of place where you can feel comfortable in jeans and sneakers and still say the words of the Mass and experience deep tradition. It’s also a place that is very much centered on the idea of being rooted in, and being an influence on, the community in which it is located. We want to bring about a change in our neighborhoods, working on peace and justice issues, working for equality, and helping our neighbors.” His hope is to create a mix of the best parts of each church he has been a part of, “The emotional connection of the evangelical church, the justice work of the mainline churches, and the deep ritual of the Catholic tradition. All of these things influence each other and make the whole experience stronger.” Who is House of the Transfiguration for? Shannon says, “I think that there a lot of people who have been longing for community and for a place to experience ritual but who haven’t felt like they could for whatever reason. I hope that House of the Transfiguration can reach a lot of people. I have no idea how much it will grow; what I’m really hoping for is healthy community that can make a positive change in the city.” House of the Transfiguration is still seeking a space to call home, and hoping to begin meeting in February. If you are interested in learning more about this emerging community, Shannon invites you to contact him directly through the website above.
Congratulations on your ordination, Shannon! We give thanks for your gifts, your call to ministry, and your service, and wish you the best on the next steps of your journey.
(Stylistic note: the use of “trans*” is a way of including all people who are transgender, transsexual, genderqueer, or are otherwise gender-nonconforming. The asterisk comes from the boolean search, which means that if you put an asterisk after a word fragment the search returns everything that follows after. It is a way of being more inclusive.)
Johanna Hatch currently serves as Co-President of the Women’s Ordination Conference Board of Directors. She lives in Verona, WI with her family.
Last month, my job got a whole lot more interesting as I found myself participating in my first music video filming. After the positive reception WOC received at the Call to Action conference for the flash mob to the “Call me Maybe” parody, “Ordain a Lady,” it was decided that a music video ought to be made so that it could be shared with more friends.
I knew that the release date was to be over the holidays, but I was incredibly excited when I checked my email on December 31st to see WOC’s “Ordain a Lady” revealed! If you haven’t seen it yet, do feel free to take a look:
Since the music video’s reveal, it has been viewed over 87,000 times. Obviously, not everyone who sees it is going to be a fan. Just as we have been motivated by the positive reception (thank you!), we have also had to deal with negative feedback from our more conservative brothers and sisters. While thick skin is something anyone fighting an uphill battle has to possess, it can still be disheartening at times to hear feedback along the lines of:
If you don’t like what the Catholic Church has decided, then you aren’t Catholic and should just leave.
You can’t pick and choose what to believe in. Take in all of the Church’s teachings and decrees or look elsewhere.
Now, this is not where I will make the argument for why women who feel called to the priesthood ought to be able to pursue their call from God; our website does a much more comprehensive and eloquent job at that than I could. This is where I will make the argument that those of us “progressive Catholics” who do advocate and work for change in the Church are Catholics who care too much about our Church and faith to leave her.
These negative comments made me feel as if the term “Cafeteria Catholic” was being flounced around. I have never been fond of this term, I actually find it to be offensive. For people of faith, their religion is not a simple issue that can be approached with an “I like this, but not that” mindset. The idea of the “Cafeteria Catholic” completely ignores the inner conflict that arises when an individual’s conscience begins to question their religious teachings. As Catholics, we have been taught that our conscience is not something that we can ignore. Those of us who advocate and work for change in our Church have each had our own personal struggles in confronting our teachings with questions of conscience.
As our Catechism teaches us: “Man has the right to act in conscience and in freedom so as personally to make moral decisions. “He must not be forced to act contrary to his conscience. Nor must he be prevented from acting according to his conscience, especially in religious matters.1782” As Catholics, we form our conscience through thoughtful prayer and reflection, listening to our teachings and to our God. I cannot speak for anyone but myself, but there are stances that the Church has made that my conscience cannot reconcile with; women’s ordination is one such stance.
However, my disagreement with the Church on women’s ordination does not nullify my identity as a Catholic. Some of us may disagree with our Church, but those who advocate and work for change clearly cannot simply walk away. You don’t give up on something you love and believe in. If progressive Catholics weren’t truly Catholic, why would we work so hard to bring about change to our Church?
We can’t give up on our Church, she means far too much to us. Believe me, I recognize that this is an uphill struggle, but why would anyone take part in such a movement if we didn’t believe in our bones that is what is right and it is what our Church deserves. Our faith deserves a Church that reflects our diverse people and our loving, accepting God.
That is why we continue. That is what makes such struggles worthwhile. That is what helps thicken my skin against negative comments about a fun and silly pro-women’s ordination music video.
Carly Rae Jepsen’s catchy hit, Call Me Maybe, is the most parodied, copied, and reworked song of the year. From Olympians to Cookie Monster, everyone has taken a turn at creating their own version. We couldn’t let 2012 go by without putting our own WOC spin on it.
Where was the music video filmed?
The beautiful church we filmed at was St. Thomas Episcopal Church in downtown Washington, DC. We are forever grateful for their hospitality and “schmoozing.”
Why was the video inspired by St. Thérèse of Lisieux?
St. Thérèse of Lisieux, a Doctor of the Church, is the patron saint of women’s ordination. St. Thérèse’s call to the priesthood is well-documented. St. Thérèse died at the young age of 24. Before her death she stated, “You see, God is going to take me at an age when I would not have had the time to become a priest…. If I could have been a priest, I would have been ordained at these June ordinations. So what did God do? So that I would not be disappointed, he let me be sick: in that way I could not have been there, and I would die before I could exercise my ministry.”
Where did you get your priestly attire?
The priest vestments were actually from a costume company down the street from the WOC office and were originally created for a production of Becket. They were created for men and much too long for any of us. We shorted them by knotting the backs with ponytail holders. Just two weeks after we borrowed the costumes, the store randomly closed down.
How long did it take to film the video?
It took about 5 hours from start to finish. The three catholic school girls danced for that entire time.
What does M.Div mean?
M.Div is short for “Master of Divinity.” It is the most common academic degree in seminaries and divinity schools.
What does chasuble mean?
The chasuble is the outermost liturgical vestment worn by priests for the celebration of the Eucharist.
What does “some pope in a hat closed discussion on that” refer to?
Pope John Paul II officially closed the discussion on women’s ordination in 1994. People have been fired from their jobs for even discussing the issue.
The “Pope” in our music video is our executive director, Erin Saiz Hanna, dancing with her son.
What’s your issue with St. Paul?
The phrase in the video refers very specifically to 1 Corinthians 14:34-35, in which Paul wrote: “As in all the congregations of the saints, women should remain silent in the churches. They are not allowed to speak, but must be in submission, as the Law says. If they want to inquire about something, they should ask their own husbands at home; for it is disgraceful for a woman to speak in the church”
Opponents of women’s ordination often use this one misogynistic quote to try and validate the male-only priesthood and why women shouldn’t preach. We are constantly up against this quote. However, in the great words of St. Theresa of Avila, “about the injunction of the Apostle Paul that women should keep silent in church? Don’t go by one text only.” So true. St. Paul also has many wonderful quotes, including being attributed to, “there is no free nor, slave, and no woman nor man, no Jew nor Greek” (Gal. 3:28).
And quite honestly, “Paul” easily rhymed with “call.”
Send us your questions at woc@womensordination.org
I don’t know if you regard the non-ordination of women within our Roman Catholic Church as an injustice or not, but the newspaper, the National Catholic Reporter (NCR) agrees with Fr. Roy Bourgeois. As you know, I regard Fr. Roy as my personal friend. I came to know him “up close” when he came as our keynote speaker for our Call To Action-Michigan state Conference a year or two ago. I know this is dangerous for me to say this in this public way because I too can receive the same fate that happened to him. By this I mean, I too can be dismissed from my religious order as he has been. This scares me as it did him.
But I too believe the non-ordination of women is a sin of injustice. I am saying I am having difficulty in accepting the Church’s teaching about the ordination of women because I believe that discriminating against them in this sacrament is a sin, an injustice. I see it the same as racism when our society kept black people and white people apart and separate. I believe all human beings are created “equal”. I see no reason to separate one from the other. Why does one need to do this? Why can they not be treated equally as human beings in all 7 of our sacraments rather than limiting women to only 6 of them when it comes to our Church’s sacramental system?
But as a woman religious, I also want to “sing the praises” of this particular newspaper. Without this newspaper, would our voices as USA women religious be known if it were not for this newspaper? I doubt it. I am referring to last August when the men in the Vatican started the Assessment of our leadership (LCWR). Earlier than this Assessment, NCR had also related well our experience as ordinary or “plain” Sisters (those of us in “the ranks”, not in the leadership positions among us) as we underwent the “Visitation” (Investigation) under the Vatican’s delegate, Mother Clare Milea.
I think a very big and important question to ask now with what NCR has done is to ask, “Would any other Catholic newspaper be able to survive within our Church as I believe they will”? The reason I say this is because this newspaper is run and operated by the “sensus fidelium” or outside the so-called “canonical structures” of our Church. In other words, no employee will be “OUT OF THEIR JOB” because of what they are saying in this their editorial statement. In this way I believe they are very strong and will continue into our future.
I hope you notice that they have been keeping very good “historical” facts since 1976 regarding the ordination of women within our Church?
Women's Ordination Conference 1975
The first Women’s Ordination Conference happened here in Detroit in 1975. I know because I went to it. At that time, I commuted from Toledo where I was working as a Pastoral Associate within a parish. I find it interesting that it was the same year as the start of Call To Action under Cardinal Dearden that the Doctrinal Office (Cardinal Ratzinger) commented about the Church not being able to ordain women. Then Pope John Paul II and the men in Rome were quiet about this issue until 1994. It was during this time (in the 80′s), as I recall, that the American bishops attempted to write a Pastoral ”about women” much like the Pastorals they had written earlier on “War & Peace” and “Economics”. I remember participating in the listening sessions they sponsored for us women across the country during that time. However, every time, they sent their draft to Rome, it came back as being “unacceptable.” After 9 years they finally gave up attempting to write it. They ”shelved” it because they were going no where with it with Rome.
What I also find interesting with what the staff of NCR is saying in this editorial is that they know that all Bishops do not agree with the men in the Vatican. We know of two Bishops in Australia via their newspaper who do not. One, Geoffrey Robinson, even wrote a book about it after he retired. Then we also know by way of Patricia Fresen (a former Dominican Sister from South Africa) with the Roman Catholic Women Priests Movement that there are several bishops in Europe or somewhere who also believe women can or should be ordained. That story can be found on their website.
Lastly, as NCR says here, others in the USA have also suffered in the past because of this issue or belief. Fr. Roy is not the first one. Bill Callahan, SJ was pushed out of the Jesuits quite a few years ago. After that he started the Quixote Center. Within this Center, the “Priests for Equality” translated the Bible into an ”inclusive” language. This Bible is now available for purchase through this Center. Sr. Carmel McEnroy went back to Ireland after she was let go from St. Meinrad’s seminary.
Kate Conmy and Erin Hanna of WOC
Lastly, I would love for you to meet the young women who now lead the Women’s Ordination Conference. If you are not members of this organization or subscribe to this newspaper, you should; because, as Matthew Fox said at the last national CTA Conference in Louisville, KY, it is this “99% generation” (our young adults) or are “on fire” regarding justice issues within our Church. Therefore, if you want to work for justice, I suggest you stand with them as they continue to work in solidarity with Fr. Roy and his passion for justice for women within our Church. It can be a very exciting group to be a part of. You will note that they sing and dance as well as work for justice…
Love,
Beth Rindler
Beth is a longtime WOC Member and supporter, living in Michigan.
You can imagine my shock of dismay last week when I checked in with the office through email and was informed of Fr. Roy Bourgeois’ dismissal from the Vatican and from his religious order, the Maryknoll Fathers and Brothers. If memory serves, the news was broken to me with an “fyi” and my reply went along the lines of “wow, that is sad.” While the skill of eloquence is something I strive for, all such attempts fly out the window in times of shock, sadness and confusion. It was not until later, when I saw Kate and Erin in person and saw the evident weight upon their shoulders, a burden of sadness, and their tear stained cheeks that the reality of his dismissal began to sink in.
As a newcomer to WOC and the women’s ordination movement, I’ve only had the pleasure of meeting Fr. Roy once, at an SOA Watch event held in D.C. a month or so ago. Somehow this renowned Father managed to make me, a simple intern and event attendee, feel like the center of his attention when we spoke. His actions and commitments to human rights, social justice and equality speak enough of him and already left me impressed and excited to meet this man. Yet, as anyone who has even briefly met him will agree, Fr. Roy has that ‘something extra,’ that charisma and genuine affability that draws people in. Despite his fame, for there is no doubting he is a well-known and media-followed priest, Fr. Roy is also extremely approachable and authentic.
I gathered this impression of Fr. Roy after a single hour spent listening to him speak and five minutes chatting with him. When I saw Kate and Erin, I recognized that their sorrow was heightened because they both have long-standing relationships with Fr. Roy, their fellow women’s ordination advocate, companion in the good fight and, most importantly, friend.
Sitting in the office, the day after the dismissal was announced, I was so touched to listen—or sort of eavesdrop—in on a conference call held with a coalition of progressive catholic groups. Every single person on that line was representing a larger group of people who wanted to reach out to and support Fr. Roy. It was on that call that the idea for a pledge came forth. During this holiday season, people are pledging to talk about justice and dignity for women in the Catholic Church and share Fr. Roy’s story. Please join us in this pledge. Fr. Roy risked everything to break the silence of sexism in the Catholic Church. We can begin to break down oppression of silence within ourselves and our communities by bringing the sin of sexism out of the shadows and into the light.
If you would like show further support of Father Roy, you can send him letters of support during these difficult times to: WOC P.O. Box 15057 Washington, DC 20003, attention: Fr. Roy Bourgeois. Additionally, Fr. Roy has written a booklet about his own faith journey and discernment of conscience. He encourages you to use his story as a conversation starter with your own friends, family and community. You can also send copies of the book to your friends, priest, local news editor and others in your community.
Fr. Roy said in a statement after his dismissal, “The Vatican and Maryknoll can dismiss me, but they cannot dismiss the issue of gender equality in the Catholic Church. The demand for gender equality is rooted in justice and dignity and will not go away.” As Fr. Roy remains unwavering in his commitment to equality let us continue to show him our support and continue to move forward in our movement for equality and inclusion.
Two weekends ago I had the pleasure of being one of the 400 first time attendees at the annual Call To Action conference “Justice Rising.” Considering there were around 1,600 attendees in total at the conference, I think it speaks wonders about the conference and its outreach that one-fourth of us there were new. Progressive Catholics from around the country gathered for a weekend of liturgies, caucuses, presentations and keynote addresses focusing on topics such as social justice, anti-racism, anti-oppression, and full Church inclusion. I have to admit that, as someone who not too long ago was clueless to the progressive side of Catholicism, I was somewhat overwhelmed. Overwhelmed, but in a good, positive and moving way.
Maybe this is a sign that I really have been working in downtown DC for a bit now, but upon arriving to the conference’s hotel I felt as though I’d entered a mini CTA downtown. People were walking about en masse, weaving their way through the maze of the hotel conference rooms and banquet halls; a mix of the “city” veterans walking with purpose and the “tourists” seeking help to find their way to the proper destination. I was, without a doubt, a tourist and was happily shown my way to the WOC table in the exhibition hall where I womaned the WOC table.
I’m sure that the idea of tabling probably doesn’t excite most people, but I had a blast! It was so lovely to speak with people who meandered about the hall and who stopped to check out the WOC table. There was so much encouragement and support for the women’s ordination movement that even as a newbie to the conference as well as to WOC I felt welcomed and at home. It was even more exciting to put faces to the individuals I’d previously corresponded with by phone and email. I can’t speak for the people I met, but for me that shimmer of recognition after introductions was always followed by an instant feeling of camaraderie.
Ida Raming, one of the Danube Seven speaking at our caucus
Not only did I get to meet some of the amazing WOC supporters and members, but I also got to meet many of the heroines of the women’s ordination movement: the lovely womenpriests themselves! At a caucus held by WOC, Roman Catholic Womenpriests (RCWP) and the Association of Roman Catholic Womenpriests (ARCWP) I had to contain myself as we recognized the womenpriests in the room.
There I was sitting in a room with a range of women called, from three members of theDanube Seven, to women celebrating a fifth anniversary as a priest to women celebrating their ordination as deacon and their upcoming ordination into the priesthood. I think it is fair to say that I was not the only one extremely moved by these strong and grace-filled women. The outpouring of support from the caucus attendees was moving in and of itself.
I must confess, the WOC caucus was not the only time I had to contain myself that weekend. Although I knew who was coming to the conference, thanks to the nifty schedule CTA posted well in advance, it did not really click that I might get a chance to meet some of the head movers and shakers of the progressive side of Catholicism. I fear I did a better job of keeping my cool amongst the Womenpriests because I was there, even if in the background, as a part of WOC. When I was just Jillian working as a volunteer at the CTA table, all of that discipline vanished.
I realized this when I saw Sr. Simone Campbell walk past. That’s right, the Sr. Simone Campbell from Nuns on the Bus. Please forgive the failure to produce a more mature or more eloquent example than what I am about to give: there is no better way to explain my excitement at meeting the woman I saw not only in the news but also on both The Colbert Report and on The Daily show than that of a tween in the 90’s at an N’SYNC concert. Now I’m afraid I just embarrassed and dated myself, but that is exactly how I felt! Let’s just say that I was excitedly nervous to stop her and steal a few minutes of her time for a quick chat. Not only was she extremely warm and welcoming, but she was also gracious in sharing a few fun stories about her experience on two of my favorite TV shows as well as how the recent fame has helped her grow accustomed to strangers (like me!) asking to take a picture.
As my gushing might suggest, meeting the phenomenal womenpriests and sisters I’d only previously read about and seen on TV and in film was the icing on top of the treat that was “Justice Rising.” Now what was the cherry on top, you’re wondering? Two words: flash mob. It’s true, I had the absolute joy of participating in and helping with a flash mob. The creative genius that is the WOC staff, the lovely Erin Saiz-Hanna and Kate Conmy, used their skills at prose to create a parody to the summer pop-music hit “Call Me Maybe” by Carly Rae Jepsen. Recruited for my past in dance, I had the pleasure of adding moves to the clever lyrics of “Ordain a Lady.” With the amazing participation of members of CTA’s 20/30 Program as well as WOC Board members and caucus attendees, a small group of people managed to pop up and steal the attention of a banquet hall full of people after a keynote address. My personal goal for the flash mob was for people who weren’t privy to the mob to get up and dance with us. To my utmost joy, so many people joined in on the fun! It was so heartwarming to see people join us in kinship and support, even in something as silly as a flash mob.
I found the crowd participation heartwarming and not surprising because kinship, community and support was what the conference was all about. Every aspect of the conference pointed towards our ability as individuals and as a larger Catholic community to make positive strides towards creating a more just society. Without a doubt, the Church needs to be a beacon for justice; justice for all. As CTA’s Executive Director Jim FitzGerald stated, we, the people, are the Church. I may be new to this movement and still extremely optimistic, but I believe that by actively working to eliminate oppression in ourselves and our surroundings, we can make a positive difference. I believe it is our duty to respond to the call we have all been given; the call to action and to justice.
P.S. I promise to share the flash mob once we get our hands on the video!
In the Roman Catholic Church, it was a kairos moment pertaining to a critique of an illogical, dysfunctional church, and gender-justice for Catholic women in a global world. From July 9th through the 11th, a group of twenty-one Catholic feminists representing diverse ages, cultures, ethnic backgrounds that included academicians and practitioners, women religious, and administrators gathered together in Baltimore, Maryland, to discuss three major themes relating to the future of Catholic feminism. They were, “the church and social justice,” “feminist education and theology,” and “feminist ministry and church justice.” The event was timely in light of multiple challenges that Catholic women are experiencing in relationship to the institutional church. Among these challenges, the most immanent ones are the churches investigation of American nuns, reprimands of women theologians, and the churches’ financial efforts to ban reproductive rights for women. The overriding theme was to discuss alternative ways of being Catholic feminists. Initial presentations by Mary Hunt, Nancy Sylvester, and Marianne Duddy-Burke, reflected on a historic Catholic landscape that framed our discussions of shifting paradigms for understanding church in light of feminist Catholic theological perspective. They provided a backdrop for the three-day conference entitled “Catholic Feminist Movement Building.” Participants discussed and were invited to re-imagine a church where feminist efforts could work for global justice. Key terms that weaved our discussion together were integration, transformation, collaboration, interdependence, allies, and “the moveable middle.” Participants overwhelmingly were in agreement that the work of Catholic feminists is to address the needs of a global world, “beyond difference,” and inclusive of interdependence while critiquing the churches complicity in not living the gospel message. Hunt proposed that the movement not situate its history in light of Vatican II, nor the hierarchical church, but rather in light of “women’s struggles in the church.” Ruether declared that it is necessary to critique the church though not focus our energies on changing the church. Questions raised then became:
•How can we create a structure to support women in their respective ministries or theological education?
•What distinguishes feminist action?
•How do we move from our individual spheres into a global movement?
•How does the movement ensure a larger movement of the people of God?
•What is the role of marginal communities?
•What feminist principles could help in enabling a shift in paradigms that meet the varied needs of a global world?
•How do we use resources efficiently?
•Is there any place for feminism in the Roman Catholic Church?
•Can we be feminists in the church?
In light of the collaborative efforts and dialogue among Catholic women present it was obvious that “to be a Catholic feminist” takes on different ministries, shapes, and forms. Nationwide, Catholic feminist are called to continue the work of raising consciousness on varied and multiple layers of oppression in a male-centered church particularly as it relates to the role of women.
Strategies for Actualizing a feminist Catholic vision:
Attendees were invited to think of their dreams for a renewed church above and beyond the limitations of financial support. Also, individuals were encouraged to not limit our ministries based on the idea that we do not have money readily accessible to us.
DREAM: To be feminist is to reach out globally. Make it real. The history of all catholic women’s groups.
I.
- The importance of networking and ally-building if the Catholic feminist movement is to continue to thrive and be effective.
- Minimizing cultural isolation, analysis and prayer.
- Beyond and dissolving barriers: AQ: what do you mean here?
- It’s about relationships. We cannot network effectively if we do not take the energy and time to nurture relationships outside of our comfort-zones. Networking takes energy and time.
- Break down barriers between diverse ethnic background and links us in a social justice agenda that integrates consciousness-raising, commitment to social justice [women’s] issues through activism: teaching, praxis and service.
- Relationships need to emerge organically. Must respond to the needs of small faith based communities.
II.
- To establish an on-going Catholic think-tank for feminist theologians to gather each year to critique and respond to pressing situations of women in the church. It would be a feminist educational Movement. They would educate activists, grassroots and parish ministries on the ground. Interupt, educate and re-educate.
- To establish a global Catholic feminist Center. This center would bridge Catholic feminist activism efforts on a micro and macro level. It would link communities through video-blogs, [tweeting], on-line resources and provide that include education and small faith based communities.
- Translate social justice and politics to people in the middle
- New models: sister cities that would support groups on a local, national and global level
- Platform, Knowing our message, be proactive with regards to legal, media and people. Think outside of the box. Use media to our advantage. Concerted effort to broaden input of what the message is.
III.
- Women Church [Liturgy], Community, and Ideology
- The importance of house churches and small faith based communities.
- Intersection of liturgy, communities and ideologies
- Inter-parish tweeting
- Structural networks, parishes K-1
- Women Church is broadened to men
Theresa Yugar is a longtime WOC member and former Board Member. She is currently a PhD. Candidate at Claremont School of Religion in Claremont, CA.
