Please use this Resource List to enhance or substitute portions of the four sample gatherings. You may also want to use it to further explore the topic of women, spirituality and religion in your group. In addition, after exploring the issues of women in our church, your group may decide to take action on these pressing concerns, so we have included ideas for action at the end.
SCRIPTURE QUOTES
SCRIPTURE STORIES
VATICAN TEACHING
RITUALS
BOOKS
VIDEOS
ARTICLES
Both of the following websites have numerous articles about women’s ordination and women’s issues in the Catholic Church:
http://www.womensordination.org/articles.html
http://www.women-churchconvergence.org/conclave/articles.htm
http://www.womenpriests.org
In addition, the Women’s Ordination Conference has a quarterly publication, NewWomen, NewChurch, which contains articles about a renewed priesthood and church from a feminist perspective and the current developments in the women’s ordination movement. To order NewWomen, NewChurch Archives or to subscribe, email woc@womensordination.org.
SPEAKERS
To find a speaker in your area that focuses on feminist spirituality and/or women’s ordination, please call the national office of the Women’s Ordination Conference (WOC) (703) 352-1006. There are women throughout the country who have a long and intense commitment to feminist ministry and the women’s ordination movement, and WOC can connect you to them.
WEBLINKS FOR PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS
- Women’s Ordination Conference (WOC) is a national organization that works for the ordination of women into a renewed priestly priesthood and church that is inclusive and liberating for all God’s creation. www.womensordination.org
- Call to Action (CTA) is a national movement working for equality and justice in the Church and society. www.cta-usa.org
- FutureChurch is a national coalition of parish-centered Catholics who seek the full participation of all baptized Catholics in the life of the Church. www.futurechurch. org
- Dignity/USA works for respect and justice for all gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender persons in the Catholic Church and the world through education, advocacy and support. http://www.dignityusa.org/
- Women-Church Convergence is a coalition of autonomous Catholic-rooted organizations raising a feminist voice and committed to an ekklesia of women which is participative, egalitarian and self-governing.www.women-churchconvergence.org
- Women’s Ordination Catholic Internet Library is nn Internet library on women's ordination, this website presents alternative views of scripture, tradition, and the magisterium, as well as research and other resources. www.womenpriests.org
ARTS & ARTISTS
Dr. Dorothy Irvin, Creator of “Calendar: The Archaeology of Women’s Traditional Ministries in the Church.” For more information, contact WOC at (703) 352-1006 or woc@womensordination.org.
The Last Supper print. This print depicts an artist’s rendering of the Last Supper as it likely occurred, complete with women and children, rather than just the twelve apostles. May be used in group meditation. For more information, contact BASIC, Brothers and Sisters in Christ, Ireland. http://www.iol.ie/%7Eduacon/supper.htm
OTHER RESOURCES
Women’s Ordination Conference offers the following resources:
Top Ten Reasons to Ordain Women
Equal Justice Reserve Note, featuring St. Therese of Lisieux, patron saint of WOC
Women’s Ordination Resource List
A Brief Her-story of the Catholic Women’s Ordination Movement
Questions and Answers about Women’s Ordination
Feminine Faces of God
FutureChurch offers the following resources:
Celebrating Women Witnesses
A Call for National Dialogue on Women in Church Leadership
The Sor Juana Ines de la Cruz Project at Dartmouth:
Documents the life and work of Sor Juana Ines de la Cruz, a nun who struggled against the confines of church and society. www.dartmouth.edu/~sorjuana/
ACTION STEPS
Once your group has studied the concerns of women and the church, consider organizing and/or participating in one of the following events. For more information or help in organizing an action, contact one of the church reform groups listed in this packet.
- Mary of Magdala Celebrations, July 22, contact FutureChurch
- St. Therese of Lisieux Events, October 1, contact Women’s Ordination Conference (WOC)
- Call to Action (CTA) National Conference, first weekend in November
- CTA Regional Conferences, various times and locations, contact CTA
- Women’s Ordination Worldwide Conference, contact WOC
- Ask your pastor and parish liturgy committee to make sure scripture readings that subordinate women aren’t being read from the pulpit in your faith community or, if they are, make sure the pastor and people address them in a way that allows for dialogue and education about the need for women’s liberation in scripture, church, and society.
- Prayerful protest during May ordinations, contact WOC
- World Day of Prayer for Women’s Ordination, March 25, contact WOC
- Be creative! Design an action of your own that is personal to your community.
