FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: February 23, 2007

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

Catholics Call for Women Priests and Church Renewal on Annual World Day of Prayer

Washington, D.C. – On Sunday, March 25, 2007, Women’s Ordination Conference (WOC), the world’s oldest and largest national organization working solely for women’s ordination in an inclusive Roman Catholic Church, will sponsor local events across the United States to celebrate the 12th Annual World Day of Prayer for Women’s Ordination. Every year on March 25th, the feast of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, people around the world organize events to bring attention to the fact that Catholic women are banned from being priests.

“On the same day that we celebrate Mary saying ‘yes’ to God after hearing she would give birth to Jesus Christ, we are saying ‘yes’ to women’s leadership in the Catholic Church,” stated Aisha Taylor, WOC’s executive director. “Mary’s decision was conscious and deliberate, and it made her an active partner in bringing about the reign of God. By praying for women to be priests on this day, we embrace Mary’s spiritual power and her prophetic role in God’s plan of justice for the world.”

“Mary was a self-possessed woman, and she did not shrink away from suffering,” continued Taylor. “She was a poor, young, Jewish woman who was pregnant and was expected to bear a child for a divine purpose she did not know. Catholics around the world see Mary as an accessible and compassionate mediator who understands what they are going through. This is apparent in the powerful image of Our Lady of Guadalupe, who appeared as a brown-skinned indigenous woman who spoke the native language of the people. To millions of Catholics, especially Latina/o Catholics, Our Lady's love for her people manifests God's compassion.

“Because Mary is a spiritual leader in the church, and some even call her a priest, we will pray for Catholic women to be priests and for their role in addressing the the suffering that millions of women face due to domestic violence, sexual assault, HIV/AIDS, sex trafficking, and murder. The exclusion of women from the full decision making and sacramental life of the church is linked to these issues in that — while the impact has extremely different levels of intensity — the root cause is the same: male domination and sexism.”

The theme of this year’s World Day of Prayer is “Opening Hearts, Creating Justice. ” WOC has provided community organizers across the United States with resources to plan public demonstrations, home prayer services, and presentations about women’s ordination and structural change in the church.

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Founded in 1975, the Women’s Ordination Conference works for justice and equality in all dimensions of life and ministry in the Catholic Church, including women’s ordination to an inclusive priestly ministry. For more information, including WOC’s prayer service and a list of events, visit www.womensordination.org.