Catholic Feminists at the U.N.: WOC in New York this March

The exclusion of women from decision and policy-making in the institutional Roman Catholic Church is an injustice that impacts the global community, particularly the lives of women and girls. Because women are prohibited from ordination rites – which is  a necessary key for leadership positions in the Church – women are marginalized, silenced, and absent from Church policies that impacts their lives.

However, the reach of the Vatican is far greater: the Holy See, with nearly full membership rights at the United Nations as a permanent observer, influences international policies, conventions, and the everyday lives of women (Catholic and non-Catholic) by limiting their access to leadership, autonomy, education, and healthcare.  With this privilege, a global institution of 1.2 billion members is represented by a few men, who institutionally uphold sexism and lobby against the rights of women. We need to counter this influence by calling the international community of human rights advocates and Catholics to expose this global scandal.

The more than 100 year-strong organization, St. Joan’s International Alliance (SJIA), first gained its “special consultative status” at the United Nations in 1971. This March, WOC as members of SJIA, will participate at the U.N. Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) meetings. Together, we will create a loud and collective voice calling for greater structural changes to empower women at every level of the Church.  

March 22nd, 2017 @ 10:30 am – Church Center Building, Hardin Room

777 United Nations Plaza

“Catholic Feminists at the U.N.: Working Toward Women’s Equality”

The systemic marginalization, disempowerment and silencing of Catholic women by the Holy See affects the rights, health, education, and lives of women around the world, from contraception to consecration.

Join us for a panel discussion to hear from Catholic feminist leaders working to realize women’s moral and spiritual authority over their faith, bodies and communities. Q&A to follow.

March 22nd, 2017 @ 2-3:30 pm – Holy See: Sinking Women’s Rights 

25 East 39th Street

Join us for a prayerful witness outside the Holy See Permanent Observer’s offices.

March 22nd, 2017 @ 4:30-6 pm – Women’s Ordination Conference Reception 

Join WOC and Saint Joan’s Alliance members for a wine and cheese reception on the Upper West side.

133 West 70th Street