Press Releases

The exploitation of women in the Vatican and the Church must end. March 8, 2018 This International Women’s Day, Women’s Ordination Worldwide (WOW) joins the global community in the #PressForProgress for women’s equality by calling for an end to sexism and abuse within the Roman Catholic Church. The theme of International Women’s Day, “Press for…
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For Immediate Release: 2 February 2018 Women’s Ordination Worldwide (WOW) notes with disappointment the news that organizers for a fifth annual event at the Vatican for International Women’s Day were told they could not feature former Irish president Mary McAleese and Ugandan activist Ssenfuka Joanita Warry. Pope Francis has called repeatedly for fearless dialogue in the church. Yet, within…
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January 9, 2018 Contact: Deborah Rose-Milavec, Executive Director of FutureChurch debrose@futurechurch.org Lizzie Berne DeGear, The Women Who Stayed, a Ministry of The Church of St. Francis Xavier thewomenwhostayed@gmail.com Kate McElwee, Executive Director of the Women’s Ordination Conference kmcelwee@womensordination.org Zach Johnson, Executive Director of Call To Action zach@cta-usa.org New York, NY and global locations: Inspired by the…
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Release date: December 21, 2017 Catholic organizations announce new initiative, #CatholicToo, to create space for women to share their stories about the effects of sexism and misogyny within the Church and to take action to end it. Contact: Zachary Johnson, Executive Director, Call To Action 773-988-2352, zach@cta-usa.org Kate McElwee, Executive Director, Women’s Ordination Conference 607.725.1364,…
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Contact:  Marianne Duddy-Burke, 617-669-7810 Kate McElwee, 607-725-1364 The undersigned groups of Women-Church Convergence (W-CC) issued the following statement: As a Catholic-rooted, feminist coalition, Women-Church Convergence (W-CC) resoundingly stands with those who have come forward to share their stories of sexual harassment, assault, and violence. We mark this #MeToo moment as a renewed call to listen to…
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Rome, Italy: In celebration of the feast day of St. Therese of Lisieux, a purple banner reading “Ordain Women” was placed on the Sant’Angelo bridge just in front of St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome Oct. 1. St. Therese, who herself longed to be a priest, is one of countless women whose vocations continue to be…
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Dear members, I wanted to let you know that my last day with the Women’s Ordination Conference (WOC) will be tomorrow, August 23rd. I have accepted a position of Director of Philanthropy back in my home state of Rhode Island in the education of young women and girls field. Let me begin by saying what a privilege it…
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As President of the National Board of Directors, I am excited to announce a transition in Women’s Ordination Conference leadership.  Kate McElwee, Co-Executive Director since 2014, has been voted by our Board of Directors as the sole Executive Director of the Women’s Ordination Conference as of August 24, 2017. Kate McElwee has been with WOC since…
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE The Women’s Ordination Conference (WOC), with the financial support of Sheila Durkin Dierks and her family, is pleased to announce Lisa Cathelyn, Sarah Holst, and Elaina Jo Polovick were selected to receive the Lucile Murray Durkin Scholarship for Women Discerning Priestly Ordination from the Women’s Ordination Conference for the 2017-18 academic year. …
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July 5, 2017 Women-Church Convergence issued the following letter: Dear Friends in Faith, Our hearts go out to you who have been subjected to pastorally inadequate and insensitive theology in the recent DECREE “Regarding Same-Sex ‘Marriage’ and Related Pastoral Issues” given by your bishop the Most Reverend Thomas John Paprocki. You deserve better because our…
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