ROME — As 197 Catholic cardinals, patriarchs and priests entered the Vatican on Aug. 29 for a closed-door, two-day meeting on the church’s governance, women’s ordination advocates gathered outside to protest the absence of women at the event — only to then be removed from the premises and later detained by Italian authorities. “We hoped…
Read more
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEAugust 29, 2022 On August 29, as Pope Francis convened an extraordinary two-day meeting of the world’s cardinals, a delegation of Women’s Ordination Worldwide (WOW) processed towards the Vatican carrying red parasols with messages of inclusion and reform. Making their way toward the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith, the women welcomed…
Read more
Campaigners shine a light on the Vatican’s exclusion of women ahead of historic meeting For Immediate release: 27 August 2022 On the eve of Pope Francis’ all-male consistory, Women’s Ordination Worldwide (WOW) shined a bright light on one of the greatest cons-in-history: the exclusion of women from ordained ministry. In a stealth operation on the…
Read more
On the eve of Pope Francis’ consistory, where he created 20 new male cardinals, Women’s Ordination Conference and our partners in mischief, Women’s Ordination Worldwide, made our presence known. While the Vatican attempts to keep women in the shadows, our international delegation shined many a bright light on one of the greatest cons-in-history: the exclusion…
Read more
On the feast of St. Mary Magdalene, we remember how she became the “Apostle to the Apostles” by letting her voice carry the Good News of Jesus’ resurrection. The clarity of her message has carried forth since the time of the Gospels as a brave proclamation of what seemed impossible. This feast day, we ask…
Read more
WOC Executive Director, Kate McElwee, was quoted in several outlets in response to Pope Francis’ appointment of three women to the Dicastery for Bishops, including: The Daily Mail The Times (London) AFP
For Immediate Release: July 13, 2022 The Women’s Ordination Conference welcomes Pope Francis’ July 13, 2022 appointment of three women, Sr. Raffaella Petrini, F.S.E., Sr. Yvonne Reungoat, F.M.A., and Dr. Maria Lia Zervino, to the Dicastery for Bishops as an important step in removing all barriers to women’s full participation in the life of the…
Read more
Media Advisory: June 1, 2022 Members of the Women’s Ordination Conference (WOC) will gather outside Holy Name Cathedral in Chicago on Pentecost Sunday, June 5th 2022, at 2 pm, calling the church to “journey together” with women who long to be embraced as equals in Christ. The witness is in response to the Pope Francis’…
Read more
On the anniversary of the “Papal No,” please consider supporting the Women’s Ordination Conference with a donation today.
(CNN) Pope Francis put another crack in the Catholic Church’s “stained glass ceiling” last week, announcing reforms that will allow women to head some Vatican offices. The Vatican is now free to hire the best person for these jobs, instead of being limited to an ever-shrinking group of cassocked men. The news caught some by…
Read more
