Sister of Charity Given Ultimatum Over Support of WOC

Background
After 40 years in the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, Sister of Charity Louise Akers has been told by Archbishop Daniel E. Pilarczyk to publicly disassociate herself from the issue of women’s ordination if she wishes to continue making any presentations or teaching for credit in any archdiocesan-related institutions.
 
On August 10, 2009, Archbishop Pilarczyk met with S. Louise and outlined the following requirements: First, that she remove her name from our Women’s Ordination Conference website. Secondly, that she publicly rescind her long-held stance supporting the ordination of women. As a matter of conscience, Sister Louise will not renounce her support for women’s equality in the church. 

Sister Louise currently serves on WOC’s National Antiracism Team.

The following is a statement from Erin Saiz Hanna, Executive Director of the Women’s Ordination Conference.  

"The Women’s Ordination Conference supports Sister Louise Akers in her life and ministry. Sister Louise, a Sister of Charity and advocate for peace, antiracism and interreligious relations, has dedicated her life in service to social justice. We believe asking Sister Louise to go against her own conscience and renounce her belief in women’s full equality in the Church, which includes women’s ordination, is a prime example of the way women are often wrongly treated by the hierarchy in the Roman Catholic Church.
 
We ask that she be reinstated into her teaching position with archdiocesan-related institutions in a timely manner, and that any presentations given by Sister Louise will qualify for full credit.
 
We oppose the limitations set by Archbishop Daniel E. Pilarczyk. His requirements imposed on Sister Louise will not extinguish the widespread call for women’s equality nor intimidate women into accepting marginal status within the Church.
 
The Vatican’s stance on ordination is based on arguments that have been refuted time and again. In 1976, the Vatican’s own Pontifical Biblical Commission determined that there is no scriptural reason to prohibit women’s ordination. However, the Vatican ignored this finding and in 1994, Pope John Paul II officially forbade discussion of women’s ordination.  People have been fired from their jobs in Catholic institutions simply for discussing the issue, and this recent development with Sister Louise is one more unfortunate example in an all-too-familiar pattern of the misuse of Church discipline as a way of dealing with differences and dissent.
 
Sister Louise has the support of over 63% of U.S. Catholics who support women’s ordination. WOC activists will continue to work tirelessly until the hearts of the hierarchy, including Archbishop Pilarczyk, are opened and steps are taken to include women as full and equal partners, including ordained ministries. Only then will the Roman Catholic Church be better able to provide a model and a vision for a world in great need of justice, equality and peace. "

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