November 29th, 2022
Author’s note: I initially wrote this piece in September 2019, in response to the article referenced in thefirst paragraph below. The “spousal metaphor” is back in Catholic news after yesterday’s interview with Pope Francis in America Magazine, in which he exploited the metaphor to dismiss the sincerely discerned vocations of women to the priesthood. Given…
Read more
November 26th, 2022
We are so grateful to those of you who replied to the survey about The Table, and especially those of you who might think about writing for it. You are absolutely welcome to share your insights. We look forward to hearing from you all. I am listening to Fresh Air on Tuesday as I write…
Read more
November 19th, 2022
Were you expecting me to write about anything else? Two weeks ago, I picked Seattle Archbishop Paul Etienne as the most progressive of the ten nominees for President of the USCCB. He got 30 votes on the first ballot and 37 on the second. My second choice was Daniel Flores, Bishop of Brownsville, because he…
Read more
November 12th, 2022
They surprise me, these Bishops. A measure of transparency surrounds the USCCB meeting next Tuesday and Wednesday. A news release lists items on the agenda for the plenary sessions with links to relevant documents. There’s a live stream and social media coverage. WOW! But before I knew all this, I made a list of some…
Read more
November 5th, 2022
As we prepare to get an extra hour’s sleep, let’s rest easy and think about what might happen because of the amazing summary reports of the national and universal synod process. We the laity suddenly have our concerns revealed to all the world. We can whip out these documents as things come up – and…
Read more
October 29th, 2022
Kate McElwee strikes exactly the right note in her letter to WOC members on Thursday: “We have reached a touchstone moment on the synodal path, and thanks to your efforts, women’s ordination is still a major part of the conversation,” except I would emphasize “thanks to your efforts.” So many people who support women’s ordination showed…
Read more
October 11th, 2022
What a pleasure it is to be at this Table, WOC’s online community. Last week on this blog, Jane Malhotra shared about her experience during a September pilgrimage to Our Lady of Guadalupe with Discerning Deacons. This week, I’ll share some of my experience of the same pilgrimage, and next week the two of us…
Read more
October 4th, 2022
What a joy to spend the first week of September in beautiful, vibrant, complicated, art-infused Mexico City as part of a pilgrimage with the two-years-young organization Discerning Deacons, to celebrate the Feast of Deacon St. Phoebe at the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe. There were 60 of us from North and South America, primarily…
Read more
October 1st, 2022
[Editors’ note: the following is excerpted from “WILDFlower: Untaming St. Thérèse of Lisieux,” a retreat WOC offered to members in October 2021, and facilitated by Nancy Corran and Jocelyn Sideco. The following text draws from many sources, linked below.] “Jesus set before me the book of nature. I understand how all the flowers God had…
Read more
September 24th, 2022
Maybe you’ve seen this already, but read it again: There was a desire for stronger leadership, discernment, and decision-making roles for women – both lay and religious – in their parishes and communities: “people mentioned a variety of ways in which women could exercise leadership, including preaching and ordination as deacon or priest. Ordination for…
Read more
