Women's Ordination Conference

July 18, 2006

July is Ordination Month for Women!

Our Ordination Month Email Awareness Campaign continues (click here for more information) as we announce the ordinations of women in June and July and publicize the stories of women and men working to renew the Catholic Church.

Our vision is to reclaim the Roman Catholic Church’s early tradition of a discipleship of equals. We want to return the church we love back to the community that Jesus modeled for us, where women are empowered and included in all aspects of ministry.

Please send this action alert to everyone you know who is interested in women’s justice and equality!

This action alert features:

Action Alerts
- Celebrate Mary Magdalene on her feast day, July 22nd!
- Help the Women’s Justice Coalition gather information about women in your diocese!
- Attend our next event! A day-long seminar before the Call to Action conference on November 3rd in Milwaukee, Wisc.
Women's Ordination News
Upcoming Ordinations
- July 29, 2006: Kae Madden of the Ecumenical Catholic Communion in Longmont, Colo.
- July 31, 2006: Twelve women of the Roman Catholic Womenpriests on the Three Rivers, Pittsburgh, Pa.

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Action Alerts

1. Celebrate Mary Magdalene on her feast day, July 22nd!

For the past nine years, Future Church and Call to Action have spearheaded an effort to reverse mistaken idea that Mary of Magdala was a prostitute, instead celebrating her as the first witness to the Resurrection.

Over 250 groups in the U.S. and worldwide will hold special celebrations of the Feast of St. Mary of Magdala on or around July 22 in Catholic parishes, convents, schools, retreat houses, private homes, Protestant churches, and small faith communities.

To find out more information, contact Emily Hoag, Emily@futurechurch.org or visit www.futurechurch.org

2. Help the Women’s Justice Coalition gather information about women in your diocese!

Rating the U.S. Dioceses: A Report Card on the Status of Women

Who are we? WOC is a member of the Women’s Justice Coalition, a group of progressive Catholic organizations working to address women’s equality and justice in the Church. We agreed to take one joint action each year, and we need your help for our 2006 action!

What are we doing? We are preparing a report card on the status of women in U.S. dioceses, based on ten questions evaluating women’s leadership.

What do we need? We need one leader from each diocese in the U.S. to gather information for the report card. There is a worksheet to fill out, and we will send you background information on the project (should take no more than 5-10 hours). Please consider volunteering some time for women’s justice! Contact Nidza Vázquez at 703 352-1006 or nvazquez@womensordination.org.

The website will be active soon, so visit www.womensjusticecoalition.org in the future!

3. Attend our next event! A day-long seminar before the Call to Action conference on November 3rd in Milwaukee, Wisc.

November 3: “Bridging the Gap: Gender Equality, Sex and Ordination” Milwaukee , Wisc.

As a member of the National Catholic Ministries Alliance, WOC is planning a day-long pre-CTA Conference seminar with keynote speakers Anthony Padovano, Andrea Johnson, Christine Mayr-Lumetzberger and more to discuss and promote the movement for an inclusive and renewing Catholic priesthood.

For more information, contact Nidza Vázquez at nvazquez@womensordination.org or call 703-352-1006.

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Women's Ordination News

Jul 12, 2006

Conference on Women's Ordination held in Manchester, England The history of women’s ordination in the global church was addressed at a three-day conference held at the University of Manchester in England July 12-14 under the theme “Women and Ordination in the Christian Churches: International perspectives.” WOC’s paper, delivered by Victoria Rue, will be available on WOC’s website soon. To read more: http://www.ecusa.anglican.org/3577_76652_ENG_HTM.htm

Despite excommunication threat, McCandless woman plans to become a priest On July 31, Joan Houk, who celebrated her 66th birthday last weekend and is a cradle Catholic, will join 11 other female candidates in an ordination ceremony aboard a rented boat here -- the first ceremony of its kind in the United States. To read article: http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/06193/705075-51.stm

Jul 9, 2006

WOC Board member, Victoria Rue, featured in The Observer, UK newspaper Females are swelling the ranks of Anglican clergy, but in the Catholic church, many won't wait for the Vatican to find its feminine side - they're taking the crozier into their own hands. To read article: http://www.guardian.co.uk/religion/Story/0,,1816015,00.html

Jul 8, 2006

Anglican Church approves women bishops Women gained ground in the Anglican Church on June 8, when the General Synod of the Church of England voted 288 to 119 to allow ordination of women bishops. Read notes from General Synod: http://www.cofe.anglican.org/news/gsjul060807am.html Read article about process: http://www.episcopalchurch.org/3577_76617_ENG_HTM.htm

Jul 4, 2006

International Movement We Are Church (IMWAC) Press Release In a recent press release, IMWAC set expectations for the World Meeting of Families in Valencia. To read press release: http://www.imwac2.org/typo3/

Jul 3, 2006

U.S.A. Nun threatened with Excommunication to be canonized Pope Benedict XVI announced Blessed Mother Theodore Guerin , founder of the Sisters of Providence near Terre Haute, Ind. in 1840, would be canonized in October.

Jun 28, 2006

Swiss priest says woman claiming to be ordained faces excommunication A Swiss church leader said a lay Catholic theologian faces automatic excommunication after she claimed she was ordained to the priesthood June 24. Catholic News Service:

http://www.catholicnews.com/data/stories/cns/0603713.htm

Jun 27, 2006

Eileen Di Franco’s receives letter from Cardinal Justin Rigali Eileen received a letter via certified mail from her cardinal, Justin Rigali, expressing his deep personal concern for her while labeling her a scandal. Threat of excommunication seems imminent. T o send Eileen a note of support and congratulations, her email is leotcat@aol.com.

Jun 24, 2006

Swiss woman ordained Catholic priest Monika Wyss has become the first Swiss woman to be ordained a Roman Catholic priest, despite Church laws decreeing only men can enter the priesthood. To read entire article: http://www.nzz.ch/2006/06/24/eng/article6842977.html

Jun 15, 2006

Diocese of Pittsburgh releases statement on RCWP ordinations The following is issued out of concern for those who present themselves for such an invalid ritual, those who conduct it, and those who participate as witnesses since their actions will place them outside the Church. To read entire statement: http://www.diopitt.org/news_061506.php

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Upcoming Ordinations

1. July 29, 2006 – Ecumenical Catholic Communion to ordain Kae Madden a priest in Longmont, Colo.Bishop Peter Hickman of Calif., will be in Longmont, Colo. for the celebration of the Mass at Light of Christ Ecumenical Catholic Church at 5 p.m. July 29 th. At this Mass, Bishop Peter Hickman will ordain Deacon Kae Madden into the priesthood. Kae Madden will be the first woman from Colorado to be ordained a priest in the Ecumenical Catholic Communion.

2. July 31, 2006 – Roman Catholic Womenpriests to ordain twelve women on the Three Rivers in Pittsburgh, Pa., eight as priests and four as deacons.

The final day to make reservations to attend is July 19th. Contact Joan Houk immediately at jhoukmdiv@earthlink.net or (724) 612-3842.

To post your upcoming ordination or your story about being called to a renewing priestly ministry in future action alerts, please contact Nidza Vazquez at 703-352-1006 or nvazquez@womensordination.org.

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"Faith is that quality or power by which the things that are desired become the things possessed. "

~ Kathryn Kuhlman

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*** This ACTION ALERT email is from the Women's Ordination Conference. Send comments, e-mail address changes, or information for future ACTION ALERTS to Nidza Vazquez, at nvazquez@womensordination.org ***

*** Founded in 1975, Women's Ordination Conference (WOC) is the oldest and largest national organization working solely for women to be ordained as deacons, priests and bishops into a continually renewing Catholic Church. For more information about WOC and how to become a WOC member, visit http://www.womensordination.org ***

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