Author: Kate McElwee

Cry out, sisters; cry out

From where I stand, it seems to me if the amount of press, ink, and media reviews tell us anything, there are many who care deeply that the voices and agency of the sisters in the United States remain strong. If you are one of those, you might want to send an email to LCWR,…
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On the excommunication of Kate Kelly, founder of Ordain Women

For immediate release: (202) 675-1006 Statement from WOC Executive Director, Erin Saiz Hanna The Women’s Ordination Conference (WOC) is deeply saddened by yesterday’s announcement that human rights lawyer and founder of the Mormon organization Ordain Women, Kate Kelly, was excommunicated by her church. WOC stands in solidarity with Kate, the members of Ordain Women, and all those who bravely…
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International Women’s Ordination Advocates call for end of Ordinatio Sacerdotalis on 20th Anniversary

WOMEN’S ORDINATION WORLDWIDE (WOW) For Immediate International Release Contact: Miriam Duignan (UK): +44.7970 926910; m_duignan@hotmail.com Erin Saiz Hanna (USA): +1.401.588.0457; ehanna@womensordination.org Therese Koturbash (Canada): +1.204.648.5720; t.m.koturbash@gmail.com Alicja Baranowska (Poland/Belgium): kaplanstwokobiet@wp.eu   POPE FRANCIS: IT’S TIME TO TALK Rome, Italy: Today, May 22, the Church marks the 20th anniversary of ‘the papal no’ — the Apostolic…
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Take action to support the sisters!

   In the spring of 2012, the Vatican issued a scathing statement faulting the Leadership Conference of Women Religious (LCWR) for promoting “radical feminist themes” and “corporate dissent,” causing outrage among Catholics around the globe. Last month, the Vatican chief of doctrine, Cardinal Gerhard Müller, accused the nuns of not abiding to the harsh and…
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16 Catholic Organizations Call on Pope Francis to Apologize to U.S. Nuns; Launch Petition

For Immediate Release: May 15, 2015  Contact: Erin Saiz Hanna + 001 202.675.1006  (USA) 16 Catholic Organizations Call on Pope Francis to Apologize to U.S. Nuns; Launch Petition Washington, DC – The Leadership Conference of Women Religious (LCWR), an umbrella group representing 80% of the 57,000 nuns in the United States, remains under scrutiny from the Vatican’s Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith (CDF). In the spring of 2012, the CDF issued a statement…
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Documentary captures sisters’ responses to doctrinal assessment of LCWR

“The Holy Spirit is making mischief,” Sr. Simone Campbell says near the end of the forthcoming documentary “Radical Grace.” Campbell’s quote is an apt summary of the film, which captures one of most extraordinary years in the Catholic church’s recent history: beginning in April 2012 with the outraged response to the doctrinal assessment of the…
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Poll: Pope Francis hasn’t yet greatly changed Catholics’ level of active faith-based behavior

… For progressive advocates such as Kate Conmy, Pope Francis has upended the landscape. Conmy, assistant director of the Women’s Ordination Conference, said his broad tone has renewed interest from Catholics who had given up on such changes as women being ordained but also tamped down the intensity of liberals who suddenly want a less-demanding…
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Young adult Catholics find a new kind of communion in D.C.

Studies and statistics suggest that young, progressive Catholics have lost interest in the church. But one visit to a monthly potluck of young adult Catholics in Washington, D.C., may leave you questioning that theory. Born out of the 2012 Call to Action national conference, the idea for the gathering was created when Kate Conmy, Margaret…
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U.S. Catholics Invigorated By Pope Francis’ First Year

Pope Francis is celebrating his first Christmas as pope at the Vatican. He’s had quite a year. Time Magazine hailed him as the People’s Pope when they named him Person of the Year. And this week, NBC called the pope’s question “Who am I to judge?” the most powerful phrase of the year. NPR’s Nathan…
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