Catholic Women Risk Arrest to Call for Women Priests during U.S. Bishops Meeting

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: November 15, 2004

Washington, D.C. – Today, Diana Wear and Janice Sevre-Duszynska are risking arrest to advocate for women priests in the Catholic Church at the U.S. bishops meeting at the Hyatt Regency on Capital Hill, 400 New Jersey Ave, NW. 

"I am voicing my opposition to the ban on women in the Roman Catholic priesthood," stated Wear, member and former Board member of the Women’s Ordination Conference (WOC). "My decision to take action and risk arrest was made after a long process of prayer and discernment.  Many attempts to dialogue with the bishops have been made, but they have borne to fruit.  Taking public action is the only way the bishops will hear the need for women priests. Our voices need to be heard, the bishops need to listen, and women’s call to the priesthood needs to be tested."

"We will publicly bring to light the church’s unjust and discriminatory practices against women," asserted Sevre-Duszynska, WOC Board member. "We are stepping forward to break an unreasonable law in the church.  The Vatican tells us not to talk about women’s ordination, but we will not keep silent any longer.  We cannot ignore the discrimination and sexism that persists in our church-I am talking about and taking action for women’s ordination."

"We stand wholeheartedly behind the courageous actions of Diana Wear and Janice Sevre-Duszynska," stated Joy Barnes, WOC executive director. "We are outraged at the church’s oppressive policies concerning women. The blatant sexism of the Catholic hierarchy must end – we must ordain women now!"

###

Founded in 1975, Women’s Ordination Conference is an organization of feminist Catholics who advocate and educate for equality in all dimensions of the Roman Catholic Church.  WOC works for women priests and a renewed church that is compassionate, inclusive and empowering for all people.