March 22, 2022 The Women’s Ordination Conference applauds Pope Francis’ reorganization of the Vatican’s governing departments in his updated Apostolic Constitution, Praedicate Evangelium (“Preach the Gospel”). Most significantly, the constitution expands leadership roles once reserved for cardinals or bishops to laypeople, including women. WOC supports this renewed emphasis on “canonical mission,” or baptism, as the…
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Read Executive Editor Heidi Schlumpf’s March 11, 2022 column in NCR: As the second anniversary of the COVID-19 pandemic approaches, I recall (with the aid of Google Calendar) that my last work trip before the lockdown was in January 2020 to cover the lead-up to the Democratic presidential primary in Iowa. I interviewed Marianne Williamson the night…
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The Tablet (UK) named 50 “remarkable women” leaders of the Catholic church, including WOC executive director, Kate McElwee. Read the full article here. There is one tragedy that an increasing number of Catholics agree on – the Church’s failure to make full use of the enormous wealth of experience and the talents, expertise and special…
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Executive Director, Kate McElwee responds to the suggestion that the Women’s Ordination Conference might impose an “American activist agenda” onto the synodal process. A hopeless believer in dialogue, I regularly send messages to the Vatican and bishops to inform them of what the Women’s Ordination Conference is up to. These messages are almost always met…
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We know that unjust practices and laws don’t reverse themselves. Change is not possible without an empowered grassroots movement. As we prepare to count down to a new year, we need your help to keep the movement for women’s equality strong, visible, and vocal. While the journey is long, we are determined to work uncompromisingly and unwaveringly for…
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As a small organization with a big mission, when you give to the Women’s Ordination Conference, your donation will have an outsized impact on our efforts and will be put to work right away to advance women’s ordination and gender justice in the Roman Catholic Church. Thank you for the support you can give to…
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This week is what the U.S. Bishops call “National Vocation Awareness Week,” and we’re here to help. While we at the Women’s Ordination Conference are plenty aware of the vibrant and valid vocations of women and non-binary people in the Catholic Church, many of our brothers in Christ have yet to embrace the Good News.…
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We remember WOC board member Marion Flynn for her generosity of Spirit, her big heart, and her unwavering support of the Women’s Ordination Conference. Read her obituary here.
When asked why she has chosen to be ordained as a Roman Catholic priest — thus breaking the Catholic Church’s ban on the ordination of women and crossing the threshold of formal excommunication — Anne Tropeano’s response is simple. “God is asking me to do this,” she says. “God is calling me to be ordained…
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Anne Tropeano is set to be ordained Saturday as a Catholic priest, then automatically excommunicated from the Church. Tropeano, a 47-year-old grants manager with the United Way of Central New Mexico, insists she has been called by God to the priesthood. She said this week her planned act stems from frustration with the sexism of…
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