Open the door!

This weekend, we remember that 28 years ago, Pope John Paul II issued his “papal no” to women called to priesthood. In releasing the Apostolic Letter Ordinatio Sacerdotalis, he attempted not only to close the door to women becoming priests, but silence theological discourse, and discredit women who dare to call for ordination justice. 

We know the “papal no” has failed and greatly failed the church.
But there is still work to do. 

We must remain uncompromising in our efforts to hold our institutions accountable to the Gospel message of equality. Injustice codified in canon laws and papal documents sanctified by the global and powerful Roman Catholic Church impacts women and girls everywhere. 

And it impacts how effective we can be. While the papal no has failed, it often succeeds in marginalizing our efforts, furthering the taboo of women’s priestly ordination, and minimizing our financial support.

That’s right. Despite our creative and bold campaigns, exceptional international media coverage, and prophetic and essential prayer and liturgical offerings, our donations are low.

Will you affirm your support of WOC’s good work and our necessary witness for women’s equality with a donation today? Your generosity at this moment is critical to our future.

Canon Law 1024 – a law written by men – denies women Holy Orders and stands contrary to a God who calls people of all genders to serve the church.

Will you join the Women’s Ordination Conference in affirming women’s sacramental equality in the Roman Catholic Church by making your own “1024” donation?

On this anniversary of Ordinatio Sacerdotalis, at a time when we are experiencing the creative and inclusive ministries of women and non-binary people beyond the walls of the institutional church, the Women’s Ordination Conference chooses to stand firm and speak boldly.

I hope you’ll join us, because a church—striving to be synodal—must truly walk with women, and certainly should not expect women to walk in silence. Now is the time to raise our collective voices to call out for equality, justice, and radical inclusion.