In the News

Raffaella Petrini has been appointed to run the Vatican city governate, a role that includes responsibility for its health system, police force and museums. Read the full article and quotes by Kate McElwee, WOC executive director here: https://www.thetimes.com/world/europe/article/women-make-better-managers-says-pope-as-he-gives-nun-top-job-zcg8gt5rp

“Il Papa tradisce le donne, poteva cancellare la diseguaglianza di genere nella Chiesa ed invece, decidendo di soprassedere ancora sul ripristino del diaconato femminile, perpetua il sessismo“. Con riflessi gravi anche sulla vita sociale al punto che “Bergoglio rischia di alimentare episodi di violenza sulle donne”. Lo sguardo delicato, quasi smarrito, della 38enne americana Kate McElwee contrasta con la…
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Executive Director Kate McElwee is interviewed for the CBC radio show “As It Happens,” about the historic appointment of the first woman to head a Vatican dicastery, Sr. Simona Brambilla. Listen to the interview here (at approximately 38:15).

By Elisabetta Povoledo Pope Francis on Monday appointed Sister Simona Brambilla to head the Vatican office that oversees religious orders for both men and women — including more than a quarter of the world’s priests — making her the first woman to reach the No. 1 position in an office in the Holy See. The choice reflects…
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What would the Catholic Church do without women? If some activists have their way, we’re about to find out. A new project is urging women to strike by withholding time, labor and financial resources from the church during Lent, which begins March 5. The planned action is in response to the Vatican’s synod on synodality,…
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Joanna Moorhead Catholic women whose hopes of ordination were dashed at a recent worldwide synod in Rome are being urged to go on strike from church duties in protest at inertia on a reform that many now see as not only just but also inevitable. Catholic Women Strike: Global Witness for Equality was launched this month…
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CNN — A sense of urgency has been growing after the role of women emerged as a dominant theme when Catholics from across the globe were canvassed for their views ahead of a meeting of bishops and lay people – a synod – which formally concluded Sunday. The final Synod assembly document, approved by Pope Francis, said…
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VATICAN CITY — Pope Francis’ yearslong process to reform the Catholic Church closed Saturday with recommendations that fell short of giving women more equity as hoped, but reflected the pope’s aims for a church that at least listens more to its followers. … …“I think the final document will be received with much disappointment and frustration by…
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A monthlong meeting of Catholic bishops and lay people at the Vatican ended on Saturday with a call for women to be given more leadership roles in the church. But on the question of whether women could be ordained as deacons, the church said the possibility “remains open” and required further meditation… …“I think it…
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Read Le Figaro’s coverage of women at the synod, featuring comments from Executive Director Kate McElwee, in French on their website.