The majority of Catholics around the world would like to see women in ordained ministries.
“Oh, I’d ordain women tomorrow and it would change everything.” — Cokie Roberts
Catholic support for women’s ordination rises in Latin America
In major Latin American countries, Catholic support for ordaining women as priests has risen significantly in the last decade, according to a survey released by Pew Research Center (2024).
Peru saw the highest increase among the surveyed countries, with 65% of Peruvian Catholics supporting the ordination of women priests, up from the 42% average across three surveys taken between 2013 and 2015.
Peru
Brazil
Argentina
Many U.S. Catholics would welcome more change:
A 2024 Pew Research Center survey found that 64% of U.S. Catholics say women should be allowed to become priests. That number was higher among those who do not attend weekly mass (71%).
A 2018 survey by theCenter for Applied Research in the Apostolate (CARA) at Georgetown University found that an overwhelming majority of U.S. Catholic religious superiors strongly support women serving as ordained deacons, and 72% said the church should go ahead and authorize this.
We surveyed young Catholic women
In May 2019 WOC initiated a research project, “Mainstreaming Women’s Ministries,” with a survey to ask the questions: What paths are 21-40-year-old Roman Catholic women pursuing for formation and a career in ministry? How can the Roman Catholic Church best accompany women called to ministry and leadership?
Catholic Identity
73% percent of respondents described their Catholic identity as “extremely important to them.”
Professional Opportunities
On the global level, 80% were not satisfied with the opportunities for women with ministry degrees and training in the global institution of the church.
Vocation
82% agreeed that the institutional Church does not value women’s ministries and vocations equally to those of men, and just 35% felt their ministry or vocation was recognized by the institutional church.
On ordination…
41% responded no, they would not pursue ordination, even if the Roman Catholic Church opened ordained ministries to women, and 30% responded “not sure”
82% responded no, they would not pursue ordination through independent Catholic movements, such as the Roman Catholic Women Priests or the Ecumenical Catholic Communion
63% believe it is theoretically possible for the Roman Catholic Church to ordain women as priests
62% believe the Roman Catholic Church should ordain women as priests
A global movement of faithful Catholics
While statistics can tell one story, the other story is of the 50 year witness of the Women’s Ordination Conference—the largest and longest running organization advocating for women’s ordination and equality in the Roman Catholic Church. Generation of Catholics who have labored, prayed, and advocated for the church to open its doors to the fullness of women’s vocations, dignigy, and equality. The movement is global, growing, and rooted in the Gospel message of equality.
Join WOC today!
Join us!
We are a grassroots movment with global impact
When you support the Women’s Ordination Conference, you join a long legacy of advocating for women’s full inclusion in the life and ministries of the Roman Catholic Church. You are in solidarity with Catholics worldwide that long for the church open its doors to women, and are ready to take action to make it happen.
Make a membership gift! Set up a 1-on-1 call with WOC!