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We, the undersigned International Bishops of Roman Catholic Womenpriests, express our anguish over the murder of George Floyd by police officers in the U.S.\u00a0 We decry the failure of other officers to intervene.\u00a0 We grieve this tragic, unnecessary death and all unjust deaths of African Americans,\u00a0 people of color and indigenous peoples.<\/p>\n
We acknowledge the systemic racism throughout the world which is the legacy of colonialism and slavery.\u00a0 We acknowledge that all white people, regardless of life circumstances, are recipients of white privilege and entitlement in virtually every aspect of life.[1]<\/p>\n
We soundly reject the assumption that white people\u2019s lives matter more than the lives of people of color.\u00a0 We affirm unconditionally that Black Lives Matter equally.<\/p>\n
We are grateful to all those who participate in peaceful protest around the world to call for change, despite pandemic conditions. We are grateful to the law enforcement officers who participate in peaceful protests and make public acts of solidarity with victims of racism.\u00a0 We are appalled by the lack of leadership at the highest levels of our governments that continues the plague of systemic racism.<\/p>\n
Jesus of Nazareth reached out to the religious and political leaders of his time in service to their needs and in protest of unjust practices.\u00a0 He reached out to individuals who were victims of racism, sexism, poverty and lack of access to health care.\u00a0<\/p>\n
As Christian leaders, we commit to educating ourselves and those we serve about our complicity in racism and all forms of discrimination.\u00a0 We commit ourselves to speak out against racial violence and all dimensions of racism in our various countries.\u00a0 We commit to the task of dismantling racism in ourselves and in the communities we serve.\u00a0 We invite all followers of Jesus to actively participate in these efforts.<\/p>\n
\u00a0+Jean Marie Marchant, Bishop, RCWP\u2013USA Eastern Region \u2013 Boston, Massachusetts<\/p>\n
+Nancy L. Meyer, Bishop, RCWP-USA Midwest Region \u2013 Brownsburg, Indiana<\/p>\n
+Suzanne Thiel, Bishop, RCWP-USA Western Region \u2013 Portland, Oregon<\/p>\n
+Jane Via, Bishop, RCWP-USA Western Region – San Diego, California<\/p>\n
+Patricia Fresen, RCWP South Africa \u2013Johannesburg, South Africa<\/p>\n
+Jane Kryzanowski, Bishop, RCWP Canada \u2013 Regina, Saskatchewan<\/p>\n
+Christine Mayr-Lumetzberger, Bishop, RCWP Europe – Pettenbach, Austria<\/p>\n
+Ida Raming, Bishop, RCWP Europe\u2014Stuttgart, Germany<\/p>\n
+Marie Evans Bouclin, Bishop Emerita, RCWP Canada \u2013 Sudbury, Ontario<\/p>\n
+Merlene Olivia Doko, Bishop Emerita, RCWP-USA Western Region – Pismo Beach, California<\/p>\n
+Andrea M. Johnson, Bishop Emerita, RCWP-USA Eastern Region \u2013 Annapolis, Maryland<\/p>\n
+Joan M. Houk, Bishop retired, RCWP-USA Great Waters Region \u2013 South Bend, Indiana<\/p>\n
\u00a0Mary Keldermans, Bishop-elect, RCWP-USA Great Waters Region \u2013 Springfield, Illinois<\/p>\n
\u00a0________________________________________<\/p>\n
[1] See the article of African American theologian Brian Massengale, S.J.\u00a0 https:\/\/www.ncronline.org\/news\/opinion\/assumptions-white-privilege-and-what-we-can-do-about-it)<\/p>\n
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Recently, Pope Francis issued his Apostolic Exhortation, Querida Amazonia. <\/em>\u00a0This document accompanied the final report on the Synod on the Amazonian Region, thereby endorsing the report and, in effect, making it a part of the magisterium.\u00a0 Both documents speak eloquently about concern for the environment and the people of the Amazon Region.<\/p>\n Pope Francis sets forth his dreams in four areas: social, cultural, ecological and ecclesial.\u00a0 The dream for the church is: \u201cChristian communities capable of generous commitment, incarnate in the region, and giving the Church new faces with Amazonian features.\u201d (7)\u00a0<\/p>\n His vision is for the church to journey alongside the people and growing in a culture of encounter.\u00a0 The people have a right to hear the Gospel and the church should not become just another NGO.\u00a0 By the presence of her ministers and their service, the church will foster \u201ca holiness born of encounter and engagement, contemplation and service, receptive solitude and life in community, and the struggle for justice.\u201d (77)<\/p>\n What is of concern to us bishops is that while the Pope acknowledges the great work that women do in the Church to achieve this vision, his statement reinforces the tradition of the Church’s designation of a \u201cspecial\u201d place for women, which suggests their role is in some way exceptional and set apart from or above and beyond the human norm. Yet, while women play such an important role, they are deemed inadequate to serve as priests or deacons to meet the \u201cpressing need to provide the sacraments of the church to accompany God\u2019s children, to heal and strengthen them.” (84)\u00a0 The Church, which is to be a Mother called to show the people God\u2019s mercy through the sacraments, denies that the maternal face of God can be shown through the sacramental ministry of such dedicated women.<\/p>\n Reinforcing the theology of Pope John Paul II, Pope Francis assigns a complementary role to women when he writes, \u201cGod has shown God\u2019s power and love through two human faces: Christ and Mary.\u201d (101) By putting them side by side, he is suggesting that men are similar to the former (Christ) and, therefore, can be ordained, while women are similar to the latter (Mary), and, therefore, cannot be ordained. This takes away from the teaching that both woman and man are created in the image of God and thus both are, can and should be acting in persona Christi<\/em>.\u00a0 \u00a0<\/p>\n Fundamental to the Christian faith is the conviction that Christ adopted human nature inclusively, thus every human being, male and female, can be saved and is indeed divinized in Christ.\u00a0 Women and men are baptized into Christ is the same way to share in Christ\u2019s own priestly, prophetic and servant ministry. The Letter to the Galatians 3:28 states clearly that in Christ there is no distinction \u2013 \u201cneither Jew nor Greek, male nor female, slave nor free, for we are all one in Christ.\u201d<\/p>\n Unfortunately, throughout the history of the church, men with power and authority have defined women as deficient to represent Christ because they do not possess the male physiology of Jesus.\u00a0 This is the thesis of the Apostolic Letter Ordinatio Sacrdotalis<\/em> (1994) which has been shown to contain many theological and historical mistakes. Failure to use historic critical exegesis of the Bible perpetuates such errors and dismisses the findings of the Pontifical Biblical Commission (1976) that there is no scriptural basis for exclusion of women from ordination.<\/p>\n Roman Catholic Women Priests are called by God to live the fullness of their Baptism as priests and are ordained according to the Rite of the Roman Catholic Church.\u00a0 We no longer abide by the unjust laws of the institution that denies the equality of women and men baptized in Christ.\u00a0 By our prophetic witness the ever renewing and reenergizing Spirit of God gives voice to women in order to bring the light of truth regarding their role in the church from the earliest days and to create ways to enrich the mission and ministry of the Church. Thus, we hope to meet \u201cthe pressing need to provide the sacraments of the church to accompany God\u2019s children, to heal and strengthen them.” (84)\u00a0 Only with equality and justice for women in the church throughout the world can the dream Pope Francis has for the church be realized: \u201cChristian communities capable of generous commitment, incarnate in the region, and giving the Church new faces with [local cultural] features.\u201d (7)<\/p>\n The International Bishops of Roman Catholic Women Priests:<\/p>\n +Jane Kryzanowski, Bishop, RCWP Canada \u2013 Regina, Saskatchewan<\/p>\n +Jean Marie Marchant, Bishop, RCWP\u2013USA Eastern Region \u2013 Framingham, Massachusetts<\/p>\n +Nancy L. Meyer, Bishop, RCWP-USA Midwest Region \u2013 Brownsburg, Indiana<\/p>\n +Suzanne Thiel, Bishop, RCWP-USA Western Region \u2013 Portland, Oregon<\/p>\n +Jane Via, Bishop, RCWP-USA Western Region – San Diego, California<\/p>\n +Patricia Fresen, Bishop, RCWP South Africa \u2013Johannesburg<\/p>\n +Christine Mayr-Lumetzberger, Bishop, RCWP Europe – Pettenbach, Austria<\/p>\n +Ida Raming, Bishop, RCWP Europe\u2014Stuttgart, Germany<\/p>\n +Marie Evans Bouclin, Bishop Emerita, RCWP Canada \u2013 Sudbury, Ontario<\/p>\n +Merlene Olivia Doko, Bishop Emerita, RCWP-USA Western Region – Pismo Beach, California<\/p>\n +Andrea M. Johnson, Bishop Emerita, RCWP-USA Eastern Region \u2013 Annapolis, Maryland<\/p>\n +Joan M. Houk, Bishop retired, RCWP-USA Great Waters Region \u2013 South Bend, Indiana<\/p>\n <\/p>\n March 16, 2020<\/p>\n Contact:\u00a0 +Jane Kryzanowski \u2013 photina61@gmail.com<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_divider color=”#0c71c3″ divider_weight=”3px” _builder_version=”4.16″ module_alignment=”center” custom_margin=”14px||4px||false|false” custom_padding=”||0px|||” border_color_all=”#8300e9″ global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_divider][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_margin=”||5px|||” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.16″ header_font=”||||||||” header_3_font=”||||||||” header_3_line_height=”1.1em” header_4_font=”||||||||” header_4_line_height=”1.4em” width=”83%” module_alignment=”center” custom_margin=”-21px|0px|0px|0px||” custom_padding=”10px|13px|10px|13px” border_radii=”on|3px|3px|3px|3px” border_width_all=”1px” border_color_all=”#0c71c3″ global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n <\/strong>We, the undersigned Roman Catholic Women Bishops call upon our brother bishops to re-evaluate their latest statement regarding the priorities for the Catholic people.<\/p>\n On November 12, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops adopted a letter that will serve as the introduction to a voting guide that will be issued before the 2020 U. S. election.<\/p>\n In that document, the bishops cite a singular \u201cpreeminent priority\u201d<\/em> for Catholics to consider as they cast their ballots, which effectively dilutes the importance of all other prominent social issues.<\/p>\n We concur with and applaud the efforts of Bishop McElroy, Cardinal Cupich and Cardinal Tobin who warned the bishops against advocating for exclusive, single-issue choices. Pope Francis, in his exhortation, Gaudete et Exsultate<\/em>, also pointed to the danger inherent in the reductionist approach of defending only one issue.<\/p>\n We are vitally concerned with the extremely urgent issue of a climate emergency, which will affect all of God\u2019s people and all of God\u2019s creation. We are vitally concerned with U. S. immigration policies that separate children from their parents and hold children and adults in cage-like structures, while denying many asylum-seekers due process. In addition, we abhor the current efforts to deport DACA recipients. We are vitally concerned with gun violence, with overt and covert racism, and white supremacy in this country. We are vitally concerned with the inequity of health care, especially as it pertains to the poor. We are vitally concerned with the lack of equality for women and the lack of respect for women\u2019s leadership both in the Church and society.<\/p>\n As people in search of the common good, we must grapple with many social justice problems without the limitations implied by one preeminent priority.<\/p>\n It is our fervent hope that all citizens will exercise their responsibility to inform themselves and weigh the consequences of each and every moral issue of the day.<\/p>\n In Christ,<\/p>\n +Suzanne Thiel, Bishop, RCWP-USA Western Region \u2013 Portland, Oregon suzthiel@yahoo.com<\/a><\/p>\n +Jean Marie Marchant, Bishop, RCWP\u2013USA Eastern Region \u2013 Framingham, Massachusetts<\/p>\n +Nancy L. Meyer, Bishop, RCWP-USA Midwest Region \u2013 Brownsburg, Indiana<\/p>\n +Jane Via, Bishop, RCWP-USA Western Region \u2013 San Diego, California<\/p>\n +Patricia Fresen, RCWP South Africa \u2013Johannesburg, South Africa<\/p>\n +Jane Kryzanowski, Bishop, RCWP Canada \u2013 Regina, Saskatchewan<\/p>\n +Christine Mayr-Lumetzberger, Bishop, RCWP Europe – Pettenbach, Austria<\/p>\n +Ida Raming, Bishop, RCWP Europe\u2014Stuttgart, Germany<\/p>\n +Marie Evans Bouclin, Bishop Emerita, RCWP Canada \u2013 Sudbury, Ontario<\/p>\n +Merlene Olivia Doko, Bishop Emerita, RCWP-USA Western Region – Pismo Beach, California<\/p>\n +Andrea M. Johnson, Bishop Emerita, RCWP-USA Eastern Region \u2013 Annapolis, Maryland<\/p>\n +Sibyl Dana Reynolds, Bishop Emerita, RCWP-USA Western Region -Pebble Beach, California<\/p>\n Joan M. Houk, Bishop retired, RCWP-USA Great Waters Region \u2013 South Bend, Indiana<\/p>\n <\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_divider color=”#0c71c3″ divider_weight=”3px” _builder_version=”4.16″ module_alignment=”center” custom_margin=”14px||4px||false|false” custom_padding=”||0px|||” border_color_all=”#8300e9″ global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_divider][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”3px|||||” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.19.5″ text_line_height=”1.3em” header_font=”||||||||” header_3_font=”||||||||” header_3_line_height=”1.1em” header_4_font=”||||||||” header_4_line_height=”1.4em” width=”83%” module_alignment=”center” custom_margin=”-21px|0px|0px|0px||” custom_padding=”10px|13px|10px|13px” border_radii=”on|3px|3px|3px|3px” border_width_all=”1px” border_color_all=”#0c71c3″ global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n We, the undersigned Roman Catholic Women Bishops of North America, express our support for international efforts to care for creation, to protect the environment and reduce the causes of climate change.<\/p>\n We call on all people of good will to learn about the environmental crisis we face and to adopt as a spiritual practice some effort to reduce one’s personal carbon footprint as part of a global effort to care for our common home.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n In Christ,<\/p>\n +Jane Kryzanowski, Bishop, RCWP Canada \u2013 Regina, Saskatchewan\u00a0photina61@gmail.com<\/a><\/u><\/p>\n +Suzanne Thiel, Bishop, RCWP-USA Western Region \u2013 Portland, Oregon<\/p>\n +Nancy L. Meyer, Bishop, RCWP-USA Mid-West Region \u2013 Brownsburg, Indiana<\/p>\n +Jane Via, Bishop, RCWP-USA Western Region \u2013 San Diego, California<\/p>\n +Jean Marchant, Bishop, RCWP\u2013USA Eastern Region \u2013 Framingham, Massachusetts<\/p>\n +Andrea M. Johnson, Bishop Emerita, RCWP-USA Eastern Region \u2013 Annapolis, Maryland<\/p>\n +Merlene Olivia Doko, Bishop Emerita \u2013 RCWP-USA<\/p>\n +Sibyl Dana Reynolds, Bishop Emerita \u2013 RCWP-USA<\/p>\n +Joan M. Houk, Bishop retired, RCWP-USA \u2013 South Bend, Indiana<\/p>\n +Marie Evans Bouclin, Bishop Emerita \u2013 RCWP Canada \u2013 Sudbury, Ontario<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Background<\/u><\/p>\n Throughout the world communities of faith observe the Season of Creation annually from Sept. 1 to October 6. This observance originated in 1989 when the Patriarch of Constantinople, Demitrios I, decreed the first day of September as a day of special reverence and prayer for the Safeguarding of Creation. In 2008 the World Council of Churches began promoting The Season of Creation and since then it has expanded throughout the world. In 2015 Pope Francis issued the Encyclical Letter,<\/p>\n Laudato Si<\/em>, which has drawn even more attention to care for creation and earth as our common home.<\/p>\n Youth around the world, through Global Climate Strikes inspired by Greta Thunberg of Sweden, are adding energy to the Season of Creation by drawing attention to the urgency to listen to the science of climate change and to urge civic leaders to take action now for the sake of the future of our planet and all creatures.<\/p>\n Greta Thunberg brings this sense of urgency to the UN Climate Action Summit, September 23, 2019. UN Secretary-General Ant\u00f3nio Guterres is calling on all leaders to come with concrete, realistic plans to enhance their nationally determined contributions by 2020, in line with reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 45 per cent over the next decade, and to net zero emissions by 2050.<\/p>\n The Vatican Synod on the Amazon being held October 6-26, 2019 in Rome draws special attention to the moral responsibility of the church to protect the Amazon region as one of the great lungs of the planet and to address the needs of the indigenous people who are most severely affected by those who promote the exploitation of the natural resources of the region.<\/p>\n Call to Action<\/u><\/p>\n We call on all people of good will to learn about the environmental crisis we face and to adopt as a spiritual practice some effort to reduce one’s carbon footprint:<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.16″ width=”69%” max_width=”875px” custom_padding=”12px||0px|0px||” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.16″ header_font=”||||||||” header_3_font=”||||||||” header_3_line_height=”1.1em” header_4_font=”||||||||” header_4_line_height=”1.4em” custom_margin=”-7px|0px|0px|0px||” custom_padding=”10px|13px|10px|13px” border_radii=”on|3px|3px|3px|3px” border_width_all=”1px” border_color_all=”#0c71c3″ global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n Reverend Hans Zollner, Germany The ongoing worldwide scandal of clergy sexual abuse and cover-up dramatically affects all of God’s people. Sexual abuse of any kind is a crime which must be reported and dealt with by civil authorities so that justice can truly be served.\u00a0 Healing the spiritual wounds suffered by victims of abuse requires that Church authorities listen with the heart of Christ if the Church is to heal this wound to the Body of Christ.\u00a0 Pope Francis has responded by convening a meeting of the heads of bishops’ national conferences in February. You are tasked with preparing for this meeting. We hope you will consider the following observations and recommendations.<\/p>\n Pope Francis has stated, \u201cTo say ‘no’ to abuse is to say an emphatic ‘no’ to all forms of clericalism.\u201d (Letter to the People of God, par. 2.4)\u00a0 We agree that clericalism is a key issue because it maintains the Church’s clergy\/lay structure, which is seriously flawed since it reserves decision-making to a small minority of unmarried men.\u00a0 Unfortunately, they are more akin to a secular pyramidal corporation rather than a college of Apostles whose mission is to teach, govern and sanctify through sacrament and example, the whole People of God.\u00a0 Real change against abuse must start with essential change to the Church’s clergy\/lay structure.\u00a0 Two changes we consider essential to restore the credibility of the teaching authority of the Church are the inclusion of women in all ministries of the Church and the end to mandatory celibacy.<\/p>\n We speak as women who love the Church and have accepted, in prophetic obedience to the Holy Spirit, to exercise a leadership of service within Catholic faith communities, tending the broken souls of those wounded by the Church.\u00a0 We minister to victims of clergy sexual harassment, exploitation and assault, and to their families. We also journey with offending priests to help them find forgiveness and healing.<\/p>\n The absence of women in positions of ecclesial authority denies the Church the wisdom and insight women bring to the processes of discernment and decision making.\u00a0 Patriarchal gender stereotyping silences the voice of half of humanity. Women know from experience that the hierarchy of the Catholic Church is a primary carrier of the global toxic virus of misogyny and the violence it engenders. The cure for that virus is equality: the inclusion of women in all ministries of the Church so that men and women are equal partners in gathering and shepherding God’s people.<\/p>\n Further, if the Church would recognize the dual call to priesthood as well as marriage, the insights of family life would enrich the ministry of its priests as it does with its deacons. An end to mandatory celibacy would afford priests and bishops the emotional support and stability of family life (see Gen 2:18; I Tim 3:2-5) and would provide a role model for parishioners. This is not to say that we do not honor the charism of celibacy in those who receive it.<\/p>\n The members (women and men) of the international Roman Catholic Women Priests movement join their voices with all who hope that your meeting in Rome will produce the real changes necessary to restructure Church governance.\u00a0 A conversion from clericalism and entitlement to service is imperative in order to heal the grave wounds to the Body of Christ and move the Church into the 21st century.<\/p>\n We earnestly pray that the Spirit will guide your deliberations and your decision making, to bring the Church out of the darkness into Christ’s light, “for the Holy Spirit Itself is a burning and shining serenity, which cannot be nullified, and which enkindles ardent virtue so as to put all darkness to light” (St. Hildegard of Bingen).<\/p>\n Respectfully,<\/p>\n Roman Catholic Women Priests:<\/p>\n +Marie Evans Bouclin, (Sudbury, ON, Bishop Emerita, RCWP Canada) On behalf of the members of the Association of Roman Catholic Women Priests:<\/p>\n +Olga Lucia Alvarez (Col\u00f4mbia, S.A., ARCWP) Contacts:<\/p>\n Jane Kryzanowski Bridget Mary Meehan enclosed: A Litany for Renewal<\/p>\n Compassionate Holy One\u2026<\/p>\n In our season of brokenness, you call us to walk a higher road:<\/p>\n \u2014 As we follow the Way of Jesus, guide us as a community of equals, to build a reconciled and renewed Church for today\u2019s world.<\/p>\n In our season of brokenness, we seek healing for ourselves and those who cross our paths:<\/p>\n \u2014 As we follow the Way of Jesus, may we embody his teachings of merciful and unconditional love, forgiveness, and inclusivity.<\/p>\n In our season of brokenness, the fervent needs of our brothers and sisters are before us:<\/p>\n \u2014As we follow the Way of Jesus, open our hearts and eyes to fully witness the depths of human suffering. Inspire our courage and fuel our spirits with the grace of acceptance to embrace diversity, use our voices for the voiceless, and speak truth to power.<\/p>\n In our season of brokenness, nature and all life upon this earth are in grave jeopardy:<\/p>\n \u2014 As we follow the Way of Jesus, we pray for your people, especially those in power,\u00a0 to cherish our natural resources and watch over your creatures. Help us to value and care for the vast interconnectedness and myriad threads within the fabric of your Creation.<\/p>\n Compassionate Holy One\u2026<\/p>\n As we follow the Way of Jesus, make us hope-bringers, truth-tellers, and messengers of Peace.\u00a0 Unite our hearts through our prayers, heal our brokenness, and inspire the co-creation of a vibrantly re-imagined and welcoming Church. Together, let us envision a blessed season of radiant wholeness…ablaze with Christ\u2019s Love.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.16″ width=”72%” max_width=”875px” custom_padding=”8px||0px|||” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.19.5″ custom_margin=”16px|||||” custom_padding=”12px|||||” border_width_top=”4px” border_color_top=”#5524db” border_style_top=”double” border_width_bottom=”4px” border_color_bottom=”#5524db” border_style_bottom=”double” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.16″ width=”69%” max_width=”875px” custom_padding=”36px||0px|||” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.19.5″ text_line_height=”1.4em” header_font=”||||||||” header_3_font=”||||||||” header_3_line_height=”1.1em” header_4_font=”||||||||” header_4_line_height=”1.4em” custom_margin=”0px|0px|0px|0px” custom_padding=”10px|13px|10px|13px” border_radii=”on|3px|3px|3px|3px” border_width_all=”1px” border_color_all=”#0c71c3″ global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n Africa\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0 Asia\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Europe \u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0 North America\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 South America<\/em><\/p>\n <\/p>\n May 18, 2016 Dear Pope Francis, our Brother in Christ,<\/p>\n In this Year of Mercy, we write to express our concern about the exclusion of women from ordained ministry in the Roman Catholic Church and the effects this has on the Body of Christ.<\/p>\n We are Roman Catholic priests, deacons, and bishops who are ordained in apostolic succession. \u00a0In 2002, our movement began when seven women were ordained on the Danube River. \u00a0Our international movement includes women who are qualified theologians and pastoral ministers. \u00a0Some were active witnesses of Vatican Council II and wrote petitions to the Council for admission of women to the diaconate and priesthood (see<\/em> Gertrud Heinzelmann, ed., Wir schweigen nicht laenger! – We Won\u2019t Keep Silence Any Longer! Women Speak Out to Vatican Council II<\/em>, Interfeminas-Verlag, Zuerich, 1964, pp. 61-76).\u00a0 Under the leadership of prominent scholars, they provided substantive theological research concerning the exclusion of women from the priesthood. Our engagement in the struggle for women\u2019s ordination has been constant for more than fifty years.\u00a0 Our scholarly research demonstrates that the exclusion of women from ordination is based on culturally conditioned, long-lasting discrimination, documented in many sources from church history and Sacred Tradition. \u00a0This discriminating practice continues in our Church today.<\/p>\n Nonetheless, God is freely calling women to priestly ministry, and we firmly believe that no one can limit the call of God (see <\/em>1 Cor.12:11). Church law (CIC c. 1024: Sacram ordinationem valide recipit solus vir baptizatus<\/em>) is a formulation of man-made doctrine and structures, as is Church doctrine (Ordinatio Sacerdotalis <\/em>(1994)). \u00a0In 1976, the Vatican\u2019s\u00a0own\u00a0<\/em>Pontifical Biblical Commission found that there is no scriptural basis for prohibiting women\u2019s ordination, yet this determination was never published. Why is it possible for man-made doctrine to override research that concerns the well-being of our Church and the will of God? <\/span><\/p>\n In this Year of Mercy,<\/em> our hope is that you will initiate an open conversation with us to explore our lived reality and ideals of reform that promote justice for women in our Church.\u00a0 We appeal to you, Pope Francis, to enter into dialogue with us concerning the future of priestly ministry in the Roman Catholic Church \u2013 a future that will include women as priests and will foster right relationships among the whole people of God. \u00a0We make this appeal in the spirit of your homily announcing the Year of Mercy: \u201cNo one can be excluded from the mercy of God; everyone knows the way to access it, and the Church is the house that welcomes all and refuses no one.\u00a0 Its doors remain wide open.\u201d<\/p>\n Mindful of our call to priesthood, we are following our consciences and acting according to our dignity as free human beings, made in the image of God (Gen. 1:27), baptized into Christ, and clothed with Christ (Gal. 3:27).\u00a0 We act on the principle that \u201cWe must obey God rather than men.\u201d <\/em>(Acts 5:29). \u00a0Our movement is growing rapidly, and we now have two hundred twenty-five members witnessing to and serving the people of God in twelve countries on five continents. \u00a0We are educators, lawyers, healthcare professionals, musicians, spiritual directors, authors, chaplains, counselors, and pastoral leaders. We minister with people who desire spiritual growth in a community of acceptance. \u00a0Our ministry is centered in Christ\u2019s boundless love for all our sisters and brothers. We advocate for social justice through outreach to the poor, homeless, abused and imprisoned, the aged, the addicted, the victims of sex-trade and rape, and those who are marginalized and abandoned physically or spiritually. We find that people who are joining our communities of faith hunger for the spirit of inclusiveness and compassion that undergirds their new spiritual home.<\/p>\n Pope Francis, in recent months you have traveled the road from condemnation to conversation with the Society of Pius X, who denied the tenets of Vatican Council II. Their schismatic status was overturned by lifting their penalty of excommunication. \u00a0So, too, can excommunication be lifted from Roman Catholic Women Priests who invoke primacy of conscience in answering the Spirit\u2019s call to ordained ministry in our Church.<\/p>\n We call you to action with your own words: \u201cWho are we to close doors that the Holy Spirit wants to open?\u201d<\/p>\n In this spirit, initiate dialogue with us during this Holy Year of Mercy, and remove all ecclesiastical punishments, including excommunication, against our members and supporters;<\/p>\n In this spirit, open wide the arms of the Church because we answer God\u2019s call in prophetic obedience to the Spirit;<\/p>\n In this spirit, remove the barriers which separate us in our efforts to serve the people of God as ordained ministers;<\/p>\n In this spirit, illuminate the sacramentality of the Church that belongs to all the people of God through ordained ministers who reflect the whole Body of Christ.<\/p>\n Thank you for your attention to this appeal.<\/p>\n In the Spirit of Jesus, we are:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Association of Roman Catholic Women Priests<\/p>\n Dorothy M. Shugrue Roman Catholic Womenpriests-USA<\/p>\n<\/h3>\n
\u00a0<\/strong>No One Catholic Preeminent Priority<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Media Release, 25 November 2019<\/h3>\n
Statement on Care of Creation<\/strong><\/h3>\n
21 September 2019<\/strong><\/h4>\n
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25 January 2019<\/strong><\/h4>\n
To Members of the Planning Committee for the Clerical Sex Abuse Conference called by Pope Francis:<\/strong><\/h4>\n
Cardinal Blase Cupich, Chicago, U.S.A.
Cardinal Oswald Gracias, Mumbai, India
Archbishop Charles J. Scicluna, Malta<\/p>\n
+Merlene Olivia Doko, (Pismo Beach, CA, Bishop Emerita, RCWP USA)
+Patricia Fresen, (Capetown, RCWP South Africa)
+Joan M. Clark Houk, (South Bend, IN, RCWP-USA, Great Waters Region)
+Andrea Michele Johnson, (Annapolis, MD, RCWP USA, Eastern Region)
+Jane Kryzanowski, (Regina, SK, RCWP, Canada)
+Christine Mayr-Lumetzberger, (Pettenbach, RCWP Austria\/ Europe)
+Nancy Louise Meyer, (Indianapolis, IN, RCWP USA, Midwest Region)
+Ida Raming, (Stuttgart, RCWP Germany)
+Sibyl Dana Reynolds, (Pebble Beach, CA, Bishop Emerita, RCWP USA)
+Suzanne Avison Thiel, (Portland, OR, RCWP USA, Western Region)
+Jane Via, (San Diego, CA, RCWP USA, Western Region)<\/p>\n
+Michele Birch-Conery (Windsor, ON, ARCWP)
+Mary Eileen Collingwood (Hudson, OH, ARCWP)
+Bridget Mary Meehan (Sarasota, FL, ARCWP)<\/p>\n
photina61@gmail.com<\/a><\/span>
306-737-2927<\/p>\n
sofiabmm@aol.com
<\/a><\/span>703-505-0004<\/p>\n
\nA LITANY FOR RENEWAL<\/strong><\/h4>\n
2016<\/h1>\n
ROMAN CATHOLIC WOMEN PRIESTS<\/strong><\/h4>\n
His Holiness, Pope Francis
Apostolic Palace
00120 Vatican City<\/p>\n
10901 Santa Margherita Lane, #102
Bonita Springs, FL 34135 USA
1-203-535-5444 (c)
1-239-444-0218 (h)
dottyshugrue@yahoo.com<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n