FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: April 16, 2008

CONTACTS: Aisha Taylor, 703 352-1006, ataylor@womensordination.org

"Ordain Catholic Women" billboard to follow Pope Benedict XVI

WASHINGTON, DC - April 16 - Today, as Pope Benedict XVI visits our nation’s capital on his 81st birthday, the Women's Ordination Conference (WOC) continues their “Giving the Gift of Women’s Leadership” campaign, urging him to include women in the ranks of priests, deacons and bishops. A large mobile billboard stating, "Pope Benedict, How long must women wait for equality? Ordain Catholic Women,” posted on a truck is following his engagements in Washington, DC.

“We are disappointed that the pope has missed an opportunity to include women during his stadium Masses as altar servers, which has been approved by the Vatican since 1994,” said Aisha Taylor, executive director of the Women's Ordination Conference. “In a tragically familiar pattern, only men – including priests, bishops and cardinals – will be near the altar. That’s why we have extended our mobile billboard campaign to circle Nationals Park on the day of the pope’s Mass.”

On Monday, the mobile billboard drove from 10:30 AM to 6:30 PM in Washington, DC, beginning at the National Press Club on 529 14 th St. NW and circling the US Conference of Catholic Bishops headquarters and Catholic University. Later that night, in conjunction with thirteen similar events around the country, over 100 people attended an inclusive Mass presided by Catholic women, including two recently excommunicated ordained women from St. Louis. Mass attendees gave generous financial support to enable WOC to circulate the mobile billboard outside Nationals Park, one day longer than planned.

EVENTS

April 16 Mobile billboard to follow route of popemobile, 12:00 PM to 7:00 PM Billboard to follow pope’s engagements, from White House to Vatican Embassy to Basilica

April 16 Vigil for Women’s Ordination, 5:00 PM, Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, 400 Michigan Ave, NE

April 17 Mobile billboard to circle Nationals’ Park during pope’s Mass, 5:30 AM to 2:00 PM

In 1976, the Pontifical Biblical Commission determined that there is no scriptural reason to prohibit women’s ordination. An overwhelming majority of US Catholics support ordaining women, 63 percent for women priests, and 81 percent for women deacons. There are 16 national organizations from 11 different countries that advocate women’s ordination. Currently, over 50 women have been ordained in the US, and over 70 worldwide.

“In the face of one closed door after another, Catholic women have been innovative, courageous and faithful to the church. They continue to make a way where there is none. We are raising public awareness that women’s leadership is integral to all aspects of the church. We are urging the pope to open the doors to women’s ordination,” Taylor concluded.

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Founded in 1975, the Women’s Ordination Conference is the oldest and largest national organization that works to ordain women as priests, deacons and bishops into an inclusive and accountable Catholic church. For more information, visit www.womensordination.org.

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