Key People and Organizations

In the telling of WOC’s history, it is important to remember and name persons and groups who have been key to the survival and the success of the movement for women’s ordination over these many years. WOC was not without its antecedents. It drew inspiration from an organization already active in both the U.S. and the U.K. called St. Joan’s Alliance. Founded in 1911, St. Joan’s Alliance worked for women’s suffrage as well as women’s ordination, seeing the two as deeply connected.

There are literally hundreds that could be named. This movement is living proof that it takes a village! But a few will be named whose vision, tenacity and courage have inspired and empowered us all: Dolly Pomerleau, Bill Callahan, Ruth Fitzpatrick and Maureen Fiedler—present at the creation, fearless and powerful spokespersons against the injustice of the ban on women’s ordination. Marjorie Tuite, OP, brilliant analyst and truth-telling empowerer; Joan Sobala, SSJ and Marsie Silvestro, and Rosalie Muschall Reinhardt—faithful women, keeping the lamp burning in dark times; Theresa Kane, RSM, Betty Carroll, RSM, and Mary Luke Tobin, SL, gentle yet courageous women who spoke truth to power; Donna Quinn, gentle model of open, inclusive and joyful ministry with a wonderful gift of humor; Bishops Frank Murphy and Ray Lucker, members of the hierarchy who accepted marginalization by their peers to keep the dialogue going on women’s ordination; Rosemary Radford Ruether and Elisabeth Schüssler-Fiorenza, Ada Maria Isasi Diaz, Diana Hayes, Diann Neu, and Miriam Therese Winter, great feminist theologians and liturgists, sifting out the true and the beautiful to empower women; Kerry Danner-McDonald, visionary creator of the Young Feminist Network; Ida Raming, a member of WOC for 25 years, Iris Mueller, Christine Mayr-Lumetzberger, Gisela Forster and Patricia Fresen, now bishops and animators of Roman Catholic Womenpriests. These are but a few among many who have given so unstintingly of their time, their expertise, their treasure—of the very essence of themselves—to keep us moving forward toward our goal.