Catholic organizations launch new effort, “Listening to Women,” to initiate dialogue, pastoral care

For Immediate Release

Contacts:
Kate McElwee, Executive Director of Women’s Ordination Conference, kmcelwee@womensordination.org, USA: +1 607-725-1364, Italy: +39 393 692 2100

Gloria Ulterino, RAPPORT, glorialbf@aol.com

United States and Australia:  A new collaboration, “Listening to Women” (www.listeningtowomen.org), aims to create safe spaces for women to assess a parish’s pastoral care, spiritual growth, and opportunities for women to engage in various ministries by organizing listening sessions within their parish. Inspired by Pentecost’s power to open hearts and minds to God’s vision, this five-year initiative, launching May 20, 2018,  is an opportunity for women to come together to survey the needs within their parish and spiritual lives, and offer feedback to Church leaders.

“Have you ever wanted to be heard in Church, whether by Church as People of God or Church as hierarchy? Have you wanted to be affirmed and welcomed with all your gifts?  Have you wanted to be respected and valued equally with men?  If so, here’s your opportunity,” said Gloria Ulterino, one of the organizers.

The responses to an online survey will be collected by listening session leaders and ultimately referred to the U.S. bishops, who need to hear from women.  Please contact FutureChurch at info@futurechurch.org or call 216.228.0869 for information about a session near you, or a way in which your parish can serve as one of the conduits of women’s voices.

About Listening to Women

Listening to Women is sponsored by the Association of U.S. Catholic Priests, Australian Catholic Coalition for Church Reform (ACCCR), DignityUSA, FutureChurch, RAPPORT (Renewing a Priestly People, Ordination Reconsidered Today) and the Women’s Ordination Conference.