Author: Kate McElwee

NCR: Future womanpriest ‘Father Anne’ blames God for leading her towards ordination

When asked why she has chosen to be ordained as a Roman Catholic priest — thus breaking the Catholic Church’s ban on the ordination of women and crossing the threshold of formal excommunication — Anne Tropeano’s response is simple. “God is asking me to do this,” she says. “God is calling me to be ordained…
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Santa Fe New Mexican: New Mexico woman plans ordination to dismay of Catholic hierarchy

Anne Tropeano is set to be ordained Saturday as a Catholic priest, then automatically excommunicated from the Church. Tropeano, a 47-year-old grants manager with the United Way of Central New Mexico, insists she has been called by God to the priesthood. She said this week her planned act stems from frustration with the sexism of…
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Let Her Voice Carry

Beginning in mid-October 2021, the global Catholic Church begins what is arguably its most important initiative since Vatican II — the Synod on Synodality.   This two year process will explore what it means to “journey together” as the People of God in a local and global Church. Pope Francis is inviting us to what he…
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Becoming Fr. Anne: A Festival of #JoyfulResistance

Anne Tropeano, known as Father Anne, was joyfully ordained to the Roman Catholic priesthood in Albuquerque, NM on Saturday, October 16, 2021 at the Cathedral of St. John. She is defying the Vatican and breaking canon law, which automatically excommunicates women who attempt ordination.  Anne Tropeano holds a Master of Divinity from the Jesuit School…
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Media Advisory: Roman Catholic Woman Becomes “Father Anne” on October 16 in Albuquerque

Media Advisory: Contact: Kate McElwee, kmcelwee@womensordination.org Anne Tropeano, known as Father Anne, will be ordained to the Roman Catholic priesthood in Albuquerque, NM on Saturday, October 16, 2021 at 2 p.m. at the Cathedral of St. John, defying the Vatican and breaking canon law, which automatically excommunicates women who attempt ordination.  Anne Tropeano holds a…
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Pope Francis, Meet your Priest: Ludmila Javorová

For Immediate Release: September 12, 2021 As Pope Francis arrives in Slovakia, we urge him to publicly recognize woman priest Ludmila Javorová, who 51 years ago was clandestinely ordained a priest by a Roman Catholic bishop as part of the underground church in Czechoslovakia during the country’s authoritarian Communist rule.  Entrusted by her bishop, Javorová courageously…
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Pope Francis, meet your priest: Ludmila Javorová

Learn about ordained woman priest Ludmila Javorová’s life, ministry, and why she is important as the world follows Francis to Slovakia.

Updates to Canon Law Fail to Correct the “Crime” of Women’s Ordination

For Immediate Release: June 1, 2021 Pope Francis’ June 1 changes to the Code of Canon Law (Book VI) on offenses and punishments fail to correct the mischaracterization of the “grave crime” of women following their authentic vocations to ordained ministry. While not new, the revised canon 1379 is a painful reminder of the Vatican’s…
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WOC Stands in Solidarity with the People of Colombia

May 25, 2021 For Immediate Release: Escuchando a las mujeres, a project of the Women’s Ordination Conference, works to amplify and empower the voices of Latinx Catholics and mujerista theologians to advocate for greater equality and justice in the church and world. With strong roots in Latin America, and many partners in Colombia, we issue…
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AP: Pope creates lay ministry to boost supply of faith teachers

Pope Francis has formally created a new lay ministry to encourage greater participation of secular women and men in the teaching of the Catholic faith, especially in places where priests are in short supply. WOC’s statement on the change was quoted in this AP article by Nicole Winfield. Read the full article here. The Women’s…
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