Campaigners mark the start of the Synod with women-led liturgy in Catholic Basilica and Demonstrating Outside the Vatican

For Immediate Release
Rome, Italy

[See this press release on the Women’s Ordination Worldwide website.]

Today marks the beginning of an unprecedented four-week long Synod where bishops and lay people will discuss the formerly taboo issue of women’s ordination and the need for women’s full participation in the life of the church. For the first time ever, Catholic women will be able to vote alongside men in an attempt to respond to the needs of the church today.

On October 3rd, the eve of the synod, Women’s Ordination Worldwide, an international group that advocates for the opening of all ordained ministries to women, gathered in the Catholic Basilica of St. Praxedes in Rome to pray for the radical inclusion of women in the church. Through personal testimonies, prayer, and preaching, women spoke of the heartbreak and  injustice of being barred from ministry on account of their gender.   See the full vigil here.

As Pope Francis’ Synod on Synodality opened at the Vatican this morning, nearly forty women from across four continents opened a large purple banner with the message, “Ordain Women,” in the shadows of the Vatican. A symbolic reference to the synod’s preparatory document urging the church to “Enlarge the space of your tent…” (Isaiah 54:2), women’s ordination advocates called upon the synod assembly to make room for the voices and vocations of women called to ordained ministry.

“Our presence is a witness to the global calls for women’s ordination, both as a pastoral need and a matter of justice,” said Kate McElwee, the executive director of the Women’s Ordination Conference, and one of the coordinators of the action. “We ask that the synod attend to the painful injustice of women’s exclusion from ordained ministry with fierce urgency, making room in the ‘synodal tent’ for the living reality that God calls women to serve the church as priests and deacons.”

“Last night, we stood on holy ground, resuming women’s rightful place at the altar and sending a strong message to the Vatican that women can no longer be silenced and excluded from their own church.” said Miriam Duignan, member of the leadership team for Women’s Ordination Worldwide.

Our actions continue on Friday, October 6th at 3pm with a women’s march. Route begins at San Giovanni dei Fiorentini (Via Acciaioli, 2) processing via Lungotevere Castello (where we have a permit to gather) and will conclude at St. Peter’s Square.

Contact:

Kate McElwee +1 607-725-1364
or  +39 393 692 2100 
kmcelwee@womensordination.org

Miriam Duignan +44 7970 926910
miriam.duignan@wijngaardsinstitute.com

Background:

Women’s Ordination Worldwide has actively and faithfully engaged with the discernment of the Synod, encouraging broad and hope filled participation by women in the process, despite the Vatican’s minimal credibility in truly listening to the voices, vocations, and concerns of women.  Yet against these odds, synod reports from all corners of the church have lifted up the call for women’s ordination, both as a pastoral need and as a matter of justice.  WOW is hopeful that the inclusion of women in ordained ministry is clearly high on the agenda, and prays that the Holy Spirit is not constrained by misogyny, clericalism, or fear.