In the News

Pope Francis recently announced that he would remove the phrase “lay men” from Canon 230 and replace it with “lay persons”. This change to the church’s legal code means that women can now be permanently installed as lectors or acolytes – essentially, readers, distributors of Communion and assistants at Mass and the sacraments. Although not a…
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AP’s Nicole Winfield’s report on the appointment of Sr. Nathalie Becquart to the Synod of Bishops, and quotes WOC Executive Director, Kate McElwee: ROME (AP) — A French nun who has become the first woman to hold a voting position at the Vatican said Wednesday that her appointment is evidence the “patriarchal mindset is changing”…
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WOC Executive Director Kate McElwee appeared on NPR’s Morning Edition to discuss the appointment of Sr. Nathalie Becquart as one of two new undersecretaries of the Synod of Bishops: “You know, all of these steps are important to greater inclusion of women in the decision-making and leadership of the Vatican, and so if it takes…
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Pope John Paul II released an apostolic letter in 1994 saying priestly ordination is reserved for men alone. In this letter, he said the presence and roles of women in the church are “absolutely necessary and irreplaceable,” even when not linked to the ministerial priesthood. Since then, many Catholic women have fought for the ability to receive…
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In the wake of Pope Francis’ announcement Jan. 11 that officially opened altar serving, lectoring and eucharistic ministries to all “lay persons,” rather than just men, Catholic organizations and individuals expressed a mix of emotions, including joy, disappointment and a bit of wry humor — or just plain surprise. Some saw the move as a positive step…
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A Vatican women’s magazine has gently criticized recent remarks by Pope Francis on naming women to positions of authority in the Catholic Church, saying the pontiff touched a “sore point” by again warning against the so-called clericalization of women. “Women Church World,” a monthly supplement to the Vatican’s L’Osservatore Romano newspaper, offers a commentary in…
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Spanish-language news outlet Religión Digital quoted WOC Executive Director Kate McElwee in its article on the Pope’s change to canon law regarding women as acolytes and lectors: “La WOC ‘da la bienvenida’ al texto papal, que ‘lleva a la Iglesia institucional a una mejor alineación con las realidades pastorales de todo el mundo,’ al tiempo que…
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Executive Director Kate McElwee was interviewed on Spanish-language W Radio in Colombia about the Pope’s recent letter, “Spiritus Domini:” “Yesterday Pope Francis released an apostolic letter called ‘Spiritus Domini,’ which expands Canon Law 230, which is regarding the ministries of lector, acolyte, altar server, Eucharistic minister, to include all lay people. So, it’s not every…
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“Miriam, how big a step forward for women in the Catholic Church is this?” “Well, it’s a big step forward in the sense that even though it feels like it’s not much progress because so many women in so many churches have been performing these roles, it’s a big step forward because it’s the first…
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“I’ll just get your reaction first. The decision made by Pope Francis, are you happy with the decision? Is it a start or not enough?“ “You know, it’s a little bit of both. It’s kind of a mixed reaction. It’s one of these things where it is and isn’t a change. It’s reflecting what’s happening…
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