Catholic women’s ordination group protests lack of women’s voices in conclave

MEDIA ADVISORY

For Immediate Release: April 13, 2005

Contact: Aisha Taylor, 703 352-1006; 202 422-2235 cell

Catholic women’s ordination group
protests lack of women’s voices in conclave

WASHINGTON, DC — On Monday, April 18 th, the day the conclave begins in Rome, the Women’s Ordination Conference will sponsor a prayerful protest outside the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, at the corner of Harewood and Michigan Avenue in Washington, DC from noon to 1:00pm.

“With this prayerful action, we will call attention to the lack of women’s voices in the conclave and in all decision-making in the Roman Catholic Church,” stated Joy Barnes, WOC’s Executive Director. “While women have attained more leadership positions within the church during the papacy of John Paul II, these are advisory positions only. John Paul’s ban on women’s ordination means women are completely barred from church governance.”

“WOC and other progressive Catholic organizations will call for inclusive, participatory and spiritually affirming church structures,” continued Barnes.

The title of the event is “Open the Conclave with Pink Smoke” as a play on the black and white smoke the Cardinals will release from the Vatican during their conclave. At the event, there will be pink smoke, a short prayer service, followed by statements from Catholic reform and social justice groups, and an open microphone for discussion about progressive religious issues.

“The event will focus on transforming the Catholic Church, and at the same time, we welcome feminist and progressive voices from other faith traditions in this action because the policies of the Catholic Church affect people in all parts of the world.”

Participants will be asked to wear pink clothes and feminist or progressive religious symbols, such as purple stoles and rainbow sashes, and bring organizational and protest signs that support progressive and feminist religious issues. They are also asked to join the Women-Church Convergence’s "Open Conclave" www.women-churchconvergence.org/conclave . 

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Founded in 1975, WOC promotes the voices of Catholic women excluded from official church structures. WOC can arrange interviews with women called to priesthood, ordained Catholic women, feminist theologians, and church historians to speak about the issue of women priests. For more resources on women’s ordination, the legacy of Pope John Paul II, and selecting a new pope, visit www.womensordination.org.