New Survey of Young Catholic Women in Formation and Ministry in the U.S.

The Women’s Ordination Conference is pleased to announce the results of a new survey of Catholic women ages 21-40 who have earned or are pursuing a higher degree in ministry or related studies.  

Funded by the Louisville Institute, this study was conducted by WOC Executive Director, Kate McElwee, and Program Associate, Katie Lacz, to explore the joy and pain experienced by young Catholic women today, and the significant professional, vocational, and personal paths women navigate to contribute to the institutional Roman Catholic Church.  
As part of the study, WOC circulated a questionnaire to 32 academic institutions, various alumnae groups, and membership associations; it included 8 demographic metrics, 31 multiple-choice or yes/no questions, and 6 open-ended questions. The survey was completed electronically by 224 women between May 4, 2019 and July 8, 2019.

Read the highlights of the survey and find a link to the full report here

The respondents: 

• 97% were baptized before the age of twelve;
• 68% hold an advanced degree in theology and 32% were pursuing an advanced degree in theology;
• 89% currently attended or graduated from a Catholic university or seminary; of those, 52% attended a Jesuit institution;
• 86% belong to a Roman Catholic parish;
• 82% attend Mass at least once a week.
• 55% are employed by the Roman Catholic Church and 16% are employed by non-institutional Catholic organizations, schools, or social agencies.

Significant findings include:

• 73% of respondents described their Catholic identity as “extremely important to them.”
• 80% were not satisfied with the opportunities for women with ministry degrees and training in the global institution of the church, and 65% responded that their ministry or vocation was not recognized by the global church.
• 73% were not satisfied with the opportunities for women with ministry degrees and training on the local level (parish, diocesan); however, 66% responded that they felt their ministry or vocation was recognized in their local faith community.
• 80% believe it is “theoretically possible” for the Roman Catholic Church to ordain women as deacons.
• 74% believe the Roman Catholic Church should ordain women as deacons.
• 63% percent believe it is “theoretically possible” for the Roman Catholic Church to ordain women as priests.
• 62%  believe the Roman Catholic Church should ordain women as priests, while 11% responded that they were “unsure.”
• 41% of respondents said they would not pursue ordination to the diaconate or priesthood, even if the Roman Catholic Church opened those ministries to women. 30% said they would pursue ordination and 30% responded they were unsure.
•  A large majority — 82% — said they would not pursue ordination through independent catholic movements, such as the “Roman Catholic Women Priests” or the “Ecumenical Catholic Communion,” both of which welcome women candidates for ordination.
• When asked what barriers or challenges, either institutional or personal, experienced in their work or studies, the most frequent response was sexism, out-dated gender roles, or lack of women’s ordination as a type of “glass-ceiling.” The next most frequent barrier was financial insecurity and cost of studies, followed by clericalism.  
• When asked what the most crucial changes they would like to see in the Roman Catholic Church, “women’s inclusion” ranked first (20%), with “women’s ordination” to the priesthood or diaconate a close second (19%).
• When asked what opportunities exist for women in the church today, the third most frequent response was “none/inadequate.” 

The women of this survey are educated, trained, and thoughtful Catholic ministers that have very few sustainable opportunities to share their gifts, let alone pursue a career in the institutional Church. The marginalization and loss of the gifts of these women is a tragedy that extends to every generation of Catholic women and our Church suffers in its vitality, diversity, and relevancy because of it.

We found what we have known anecdotally: women persist – to a point – against sexism, clericalism, financial insecurity, out-dated gender roles, and few career prospects to participate in a faith that they love. Our work is to listen to the experiences of these women and commit to equality. The implication of continuing the Catholic Church’s commitment to the oppression of women is both painful and a sure way to accelerate their exit.

###

Contact:

Kate McElwee, Executive Director
Katie Lacz, Program Associate

Founded in 1975, the Women’s Ordination Conference (WOC) is the oldest and largest organization working to ordain women as deacons, priests, and bishops into an inclusive and accountable Roman Catholic Church. A feminist voice for women in the Roman Catholic Church, WOC is a grassroots-driven movement that promotes activism, dialogue, and prayerful witness to call for women’s full equality in the Church.

*Through its Pastoral Study Project program (PSP), the Louisville Institute enables pastoral leaders to bracket daily work routines in order to pursue a pressing and significant question for the life of faith. Grants of up to $15,000 support independent or collaborative study projects ± projects that privilege pastoral perspectives and rhythms and honor grassroots research conducted by skilled clergy. PSP grantees use a variety of platforms to share what they learn with a wider audience, extending their leadership in ways that benefit the broader church and culture in North America.Louisville Institute is funded by the Religion Division of Lilly Endowment and based at Louisville Presbyterian Seminary (Louisville, Kentucky). The Institute’s fundamental mission is to enrich the religious life of North American Christians and to encourage the revitalization of their institutions, by bringing together those who lead religious institutions with those who study them, so that the work of each might inform and strengthen the other.