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October 7th, 2023

CBC: In the shadow of the Vatican, alternative Catholic groups push for change 

By Megan Williams This week in St. Peter’s Square, as men in long robes shuffled in solemn processions, with chorales and canticles blending with church bells, small groups of Catholic protesters gathered half-a-kilometre away, at the far end of the wide avenue leading up to the Vatican square. At the end of Via della Conciliazione,…
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October 6th, 2023

Religion News Service: Vatican Synod on Synodality signals hope for women’s ordination advocates

By Claire Giangravé VATICAN CITY (RNS) — Advocates for the ordination of women to the priesthood flocked to Rome this week as the Vatican hosts a historic monthlong gathering of faithful to discuss the future of the church. Dozens of women holding banners calling for female ordination met on Friday (Oct. 6) at the church…
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October 6th, 2023

7Margens (Portugal): Mulheres marcham pela ordenação junto ao Vaticano e dentro do sínodo esse é um dos temas urgentes

Antonio Marujo Roberta Fuller introduces herself: Canadian from Toronto, female and priest in the Catholic Church. And is this possible? Yes, she says; her ordination is valid, because it was a legitimate bishop who did it, but it is “not in accordance with canon law”, she admits. That is why the approximately 40 women and some men who demonstrated…
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October 6th, 2023

Quotidiano Nazionale (Italy): Protesta fuori dal Vaticano: Chiesa apra a sacerdoti e vescovi donne [VIDEO]

Rome, 6 Oct. (askanews) – A group of representatives of the Women’s Ordination Conference, an American organization that fights so that women can also become deacons, priests or bishops in the Catholic Church, protested outside the Vatican against the “unjust exclusion,” just as it is underway the synod of Pope Francis. Watch the video on the…
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October 5th, 2023

Campaigners mark the start of the Synod with women-led liturgy in Catholic Basilica and Demonstrating Outside the Vatican

For Immediate ReleaseRome, Italy [See this press release on the Women’s Ordination Worldwide website.] Today marks the beginning of an unprecedented four-week long Synod where bishops and lay people will discuss the formerly taboo issue of women’s ordination and the need for women’s full participation in the life of the church. For the first time…
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October 5th, 2023

Africa News: Women Advocate for Ordination in Groundbreaking Vatican Gathering

A small group of protestors gathered to advocate for the ordination of women on Wednesday as Pope Francis held the opening mass for a three week long meeting on the future of the Catholic Church in St. Peter’s Square. Before the opening Mass got under way, they unfurled a giant purple banner at a piazza…
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October 4th, 2023

Toronto Globe and Mail: Pope Francis’s historic synod marks potential watershed as women’s equality, climate change take centre stage

By Eric Reguly Five years ago, Kate McElwee, the young American woman who is the executive director of the Women’s Ordination Conference, led a small protest at the Vatican to call attention to the plight of the hard-working – yet utterly powerless – women in the paternalistic Catholic Church. “I was held by the police,”…
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October 4th, 2023

NBC News: Women press for ordination at Roman Catholic Church’s historic Vatican meeting [VIDEO]

October 4th, 2023

AP: Protesters call for ordination of women as Pope opens Vatican meeting on future of Church [VIDEO]

October 4th, 2023

NCR: On eve of synod, women’s ordination advocates hold vigil at Rome’s Basilica of St. Praxedes

By Rhina Guidos Advocates for women’s ordination in the Catholic Church hosted a prayer vigil at one of Rome’s historic basilicas on Oct. 3, on the eve of Pope Francis’ opening of a major Vatican summit expected to consider whether women might serve as Catholic deacons or priests. About 40 women from various countries gathered…
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October 3rd, 2023

AP: Advocates for women’s ordination hold prayer vigil ahead of Vatican Synod [VIDEO]

October 3rd, 2023

NPR: The pope says there could be ways for the Catholic Church to bless same-sex unions

Pope Francis suggests the Catholic church might accept same-sex partnerships as officials assemble in Rome for a synod. NPR’s Leila Fadel talks to Kate McElwee of the Women’s Ordination Conference. Listen to the interview here.

October 3rd, 2023

News Nation: Women’s votes to loom large at upcoming Synod in the Catholic Church [VIDEO]

October 2nd, 2023

AP: Women’s voices and votes loom large as pope is set to open a Vatican meeting on church’s future

By Nicole Winfield and Trisha Thomas VATICAN CITY (AP) — A few years ago, Pope Francis told the head of the main Vatican-backed Catholic women’s organization to be “brave” in pushing for change for women in the Catholic Church. … …“I’m hopeful that there is room in that space for these bold conversations, courageous conversations,…
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September 13th, 2023

WOC’s Kate McElwee on CNN This Morning

WOC Executive Director, Kate McElwee appeared on CNN This Morning on Sunday, August 8th 2023 to discuss Pope Francis’ far-right critics and what makes them so nervous about the upcoming Synod on Synodality. Watch the interview: