Huffington Post: Pink Smoke Billows Over Vatican As Protestors Challenge Church’s Policy
As white smoke over the Sistine Chapel captured the world’s attention, smoke of another hue at the Vatican has gone largely unnoticed.
According to Reuters, protestors in Rome set off pink smoke on a hill above the Vatican on Tuesday, as they called for the ordination of female priests and a more prominent role for women in the Roman Catholic Church. CBC News reports that the protest was organized by the Women’s Ordination Conference.
"The current old boys’ club has left our Church reeling from scandal, abuse, sexism and oppression," said Erin Saiz Hanna, the group’s director, who was at the pink smoke protest. "The people of the Church are desperate for a leader who will be open to dialogue and embrace the gifts of women’s wisdom in every level of Church governance."
In 2008, all female priests and priests involved in the ordination of women were excommunicated from the Catholic Church by the Vatican. Many priests — both female and male — have been punished in recent months by church leaders for their support of female ordination. Read More