Category: Feminism

“I will commit an act of willful erasure, whittling each document and letter until only the lives of women remain…I’ll devote myself to luring female lives back from male texts. Such an experiment in reversal will reveal, I hope, the concealed lives of women, present, always, but coded in invisible ink.” The “I” above is…
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“‘I think often about a group of bishops who, after Vatican I, left … to continue the “true doctrine” that wasn’t that of Vatican I,’ said the pontiff. ‘Today, they ordain women,’ the pope continued, adding: ‘The severest attitude, to guard the faith without the magisterium of the church, brings you to ruin.’”  Ruin? Thank you,…
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[Editor’s note: This post is the first in our weekly Black History Month series, which will appear on Thursdays in February in addition to our normal Tuesday and Saturday blogs. Check back weekly for more, and please share!] Even though Mikki Kendall’s Hood Feminism: Notes from the Women That a Movement Forgot has been in…
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Ride the elevator to the top of the Empire State building at night; have your binoculars with you, and while others are doing the traditional looking down and out at all the human-made wonders and artificially lighted world, look up instead. Set your binocular focus to infinity if you want the best view, but even…
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I am sure she will be quoted often these days, Amanda Gorman, our twenty-two year old Youth Poet Laureate. I am overjoyed that she is so young and undaunted and inspired and inspiring. I shudder to think about a world in which gifts like hers might have been missed—or missing.  I believe we needed to…
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Some criticized Francis’s decision to change Canon Law and allow all people to be acolytes and lectors because it reinforces the clericalism the Pope wishes to eradicate. I am especially sensitive to this charge because I bristle at the least exercise of clericalism. But it’s so odd – it’s only clerical when women can get…
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So many people responded “what’s the big deal” to Pope Francis’ change to Canon Law allowing all laypeople to be acolytes and lectors that I am going to say it IS a big deal.  I’ve edited what I wrote to my grandson: “This is so important to me right now because it’s a chink in…
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How could we ignore the current kerfuffle about Dr. Jill Biden’s use of “Dr.,” which was prompted by a Wall Street Journal Op-ed by Joseph Epstein last weekend?  For 45 years, WOC has worked for priestly ministry by women to be recognized, validated, honored. What Mr. Epstein has done to Dr. Biden is done to…
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Gaudete Sunday is almost upon us. In the midst of waiting in ever-advancing darkness in this Advent season, we are given a liturgical breather. In the midst of our penitential preparation for the birth of a new life and a new way, we can take a moment to rejoice that it is coming and celebrate…
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Forty-five years is longer than many of the leaders of our movement have been alive. I am so cheered by that.  Kate McElwee sets the tone of the celebration in her letter inviting participation in this weekend’s events: we have been together “sometimes in the wilderness, always in hope, and with an unwavering love for…
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