In the News

May 15th, 2025

AP: Those who’ve worked with Pope Leo XIV are optimistic he’ll elevate women’s roles—with limits

…Also during the conclave, advocates for women’s ordination set off pink smoke flares over the Vatican to protest their exclusion from the priesthood and the election process. “The discrimination and exclusion of women is a sin, and we’re here to say the next pope will inherit this question and needs to work quickly to correct…
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May 13th, 2025

The Tablet: Papabile Women

Amid calls for a more inclusive Church, women religious and reform advocates find themselves detained outside the Vatican, raising fresh questions about the Church’s openness to the voices of its female faithful. Read the full article here.

May 12th, 2025

Ms. Magazine: ‘Women’s place is in the conclave’: Pink Smoke Rises in Vatican City

Leo XIV, born in Southside Chicago, was elected as the first American pope last week by a conclave of 133 cardinal electors. After three rounds of inconclusive votes marked by black smoke, white smoke arose in St. Peter’s Square, signaling the election of the 267th pope in the history of the Catholic Church. Chaotic excitement…
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May 9th, 2025

BBC Women’s Hour: On Pope Leo XIV and women in the church

Executive Director Kate McElwee joined Anita Rani at BBC Women’s Hour on May 9 to discuss Pope Leo XIV and his stance on women in the church: Listen here.

May 7th, 2025

Pink Smoke roundup – May 7, 2025

Associated Press: ‘Ahead of a men-only conclave, activists will release pink smoke near the Vatican DNA India: Amid Papal conclave, ‘pink smoke’ signals in Rome, how does it affect Pope’s election? France 24: Habemus protestatio: Pink smoke over Rome denounces male-dominated Church The Guardian: Black smoke signals Vatican conclave has failed to elect new pope…
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April 22nd, 2025

Following the death of Pope Francis, WOC in the news (April 21-23, 2025)

Adista: Women’s Ordination Conference: Francesco, grande presenza pastorale ma porte chiuse al ministero ordinato per le donne America Media: How Pope Francis Changed the Place of Women in the Church Associated Press (AP): Pope Francis, first Latin American pontiff who ministered with a charming, humble style, dies at 88 Associated Press (AP): Global tributes pour…
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March 31st, 2025

Il Sole 24 Ore: Sciopero globale delle donne cattoliche perché il loro lavoro diventi visibile

Cosa farebbe la Chiesa cattolica senza le donne? Cosa accadrebbe se le donne dicessero no al loro lavoro “invisibile” nelle parrocchie e in tutti i contesti legati alla Chiesa? Mentre Papa Francesco inaugura la convalescenza nel suo appartamento a Santa Marta, le donne cattoliche fanno seguito alla sua parola – «Per stare vicino a Dio,…
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March 27th, 2025

Irish Independent: Crowds protest in Dublin calling for Catholic church to allow women to be ordained as priests

“Women see through the Catholic church’s lip service on equality” and their “second-class treatment”, according to an organiser of a Dublin protest calling for the ordination of women as priests.

March 27th, 2025

ND: Katholieke vrouwen staken tijdens vastentijd voor gelijke rechten in de kerk. ‘Status quo doorbreken’

‘Na de synode over synodaliteit, die afgelopen oktober werd afgesloten, waren veel vrouwen teleurgesteld dat er geen concrete stappen zijn gezet om vrouwen op grotere schaal te betrekken in het pastoraat’, vertelt Kate McElwee. https://www.nd.nl/geloof/katholiek/1260346/katholieke-vrouwen-staken-tijdens-vastentijd-voor-gelijke-rec

March 27th, 2025

France 24: En grève, les femme catholiques “n’acceptant plus d’être invisibles”

“Les femmes catholiques n’acceptent plus d’êtres invisibles et de ne pas être consultées dès qu’on en vient à des décisions importantes pouvant influencer la communauté, que ce soit à l’échelle de la paroisse ou de toute l’Église.” http://bit.ly/3QYMJaO