Tag Archives: Catholic

CNWE 2013 National Conference Press Release

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CATHOLIC NETWORK FOR WOMEN’S EQUALITY (CNWE)
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
CNWE NATIONAL CONFERENCE IN SUDBURY (JUNE 21-23) TO ADDRESS THE PRIMACY OF CONSCIENCE FOR CATHOLIC WOMEN
Media inquiries:
Atlantic Canada: Cathy Holtmann, (506) 476-1080, atlantic@cnwe.org
Central Canada: Mary Ellen Chown, central@cnwe.org
Western Canada: Therese Koturbash, (204) 648-5720, western@cnwe.org
Website: www.cnwe.org

The Catholic Network for Women’s Equality (CNWE) will host its 2013 National Conference at Cambrian College in Sudbury June 21-23, 2013. Over 85 participants from across Canada will gather to collaboratively shape CNWE’s action for the coming year. Participants will also have the opportunity to hear keynote addresses from Louise Akers, SC, and educator Catherine Cavanagh and to explore primacy of conscience and its importance in living the Gospel in our times.
Louise Akers, a Catholic Sister of Charity had been working for social justice in the Archdiocese of Cincinnati and elsewhere for 40 years when, in 2009, Archbishop Daniel Pilarczyk informed her that she would not be permitted to teach for credit or make presentations in archdiocesan related institutions (all part of her ministry) unless she publicly disassociated herself from supporting the ordination of women in the Catholic church. Akers states: “For four decades I have devoted my ministry to advocating on behalf of the marginalized through religious congregations, justice organizations, ecumenical and interfaith groups. Women’s ordination is a justice issue. Its basis is the value, dignity and equality of women. I believe this to my very core. To publicly state otherwise would be a lie and a violation of my conscience.”
Catherine Cavanagh has worked in education and ministry in Canada and Africa for over twenty years. Author of Women Priests: Answering the Call and Soul Side: Articles of Faith, Catherine believes that “we are all God’s beloved and the we come closest to God when we reach out to others, especially those most marginalized.”
The conference will also feature the premiere public screening of its new promotional video telling the CNWE story. The video’s premier represents the culmination of CNWE’s “Reaching Out” tour which included gatherings of Catholic women in six cities across the country.
Louise Akers, Catherine Cavanagh and CNWE National Coordinator, Mary Ellen Chown are available for interview.
For over thirty years members of the Catholic Network for Women’s Equality have shared a faithful commitment to social justice for all women. We celebrate the fact that we are part of a long history of women’s contributions to the Christian faith. Our movement embraces a broad range of Catholic women and men across Canada for whom an inclusive church that is accountable to all of its members is important. Our work for women’s equality in church and world is internationally respected and part of a network of pro-change Catholic movements around the globe. For further information, see www.cnwe.org or visit us on Facebook at “Catholic Network for Women’s Equality – Canada”.

June 17, 2013

Press Release: Pope Benedict XVI Resignation

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CATHOLIC NETWORK FOR WOMEN’S EQUALITY (CNWE)
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
CNWE RESPONDS TO POPE BENEDICT’S DECISION TO RESIGN
Media inquiries:
Atlantic Canada: Cathy Holtmann, (506) 476-1080, atlantic@cnwe.org
Central Canada: Mary Ellen Chown, (905) 339-0378, central@cnwe.org
Western Canada: Therese Koturbash, (204) 622-7000, western@cnwe.org
Website: www.cnwe.org

The decision of Pope Benedict XVI to resign as leader of the Roman Catholic Church comes as a surprise, given the long tradition that a Pope is elected to serve until death. The decision at a practical level is a sensible one in that leading a church of 1 billion members, when one’s physical and mental health is in decline, is neither good for the Pope as a person or for a worldwide organization. CNWE supports Pope Benedict’s decision in this regard.

CNWE believes that Pope Benedict’s resignation offers the Catholic Church leadership an opportunity to reflect on its mission and to choose a successor who will more fully engage the urgent needs of the Church and its members throughout the world. We call on Church leaders to ‘live into’ the vision of the Gospel, reflected at the Second Vatican Council and to make the work of justice, peace, equality, and care for all of God’s creation its highest priority. We call on the clergy to make accountability and compassion its hallmarks of servant leadership.

We call on Catholic Church leaders to ‘walk the talk’ of recognizing women’s equal dignity as baptized persons. Under Pope Benedict’s leadership we have witnessed the criminalization of those who support women’s ordination, an about-face on the use of inclusive language in the English mass, the bullying of nuns in the United States and the arbitrary removal of the woman who directed the largest Catholic aid organization in the world. Structural changes are necessary in order to ensure that the gifts of women are brought to all levels of church ministry and leadership. Pope Benedict’s resignation is an opportunity to renew the Catholic church in order to address the complex questions of a new millennium. We are hopeful that the deliberations of Catholic leaders in the coming month will respond to the growing calls for a church that is inclusive, accountable and focused on the work of justice for the flourishing of the world.

For over thirty years members of the Catholic Network for Women’s Equality have shared a faithful commitment to social justice for all women. We celebrate the fact that we are part of a long history of women’s contributions to the Christian faith. Our movement embraces a broad range of Catholic women and men across Canada for whom an inclusive church that is accountable to all of its members is important. Our work for women’s equality in church and world is internationally respected and part of a network of pro-change Catholic movements around the globe. For further information, see www.cnwe.org or visit us on Facebook at “Catholic Network for Women’s Equality – Canada”.

February 12, 2013

Nourishing the Soul Online, Part 2

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Part two of this series of annotated websites that can be used to support feminist spiritualities continues with highlights of more resources related to the ordination of women.

http://saintbrigids.org/
St. Brigid’s of Kildare is a great site regularly maintained for and by the supporters of this RCWP community in Alberta.  You can also opt to receive their newsletter via email.  Saint Brigid’s of Kildare Catholic Faith Community is a place of welcome, joy, support, exploration and love for those who desire to participate in the growth and renewal of the Roman Catholic church.

http://tepeyacvancouver.wordpress.com/about/
This is the website for an extremely new community developing in BC’s lower mainland.  Our Lady of Guadalupe Tonantzin is a growing community based in east Vancouver. We anticipate the ordination of the first Roman Catholic WomanPriest for the area in late July and hope to gather together for worship at least once a month shortly thereafter.

http://bridgetmarys.blogspot.ca/
U.S. RCWP Bridget Mary Meehan’s personal blog has frequent updates of RCWP events and other relevant news items.  Living Gospel Equality Now: Loving in the Heart of God: Association of Roman Catholic Women Priests is her latest book, a memoir of sorts about her journey to priesthood: http://www.virtualbookworm.com/bookstore/product/woman_priest.html

http://dianedoughertysblog.blogspot.ca/
U.S. ARCWP Diane Dougherty’s blogspot also has frequent updates on ARCWP events and relevant news items.

http://www.waterwomensalliance.org/
WATER or the Women’s Alliance for Theology, Ethics and Ritual is an international community of justice-seeking people who promote the use of feminist religious values to make social change.  A feminist educational center and network of justice-seekers, WATER brings twenty-eight years of experience to programs and publications, liturgical planning and consultation, workshops and retreats, counseling and spiritual direction which have helped thousands of people create and sustain inclusive communities in society and religion.

http://www.corpus.org/
CORPUS is a faith community affirming an inclusive priesthood rooted in a  reformed and renewed Church.  CORPUS is celebrating thirty-eight years of service to the people of God.  One of the oldest reform groups in the Catholic Church, it is active in reform movements both in the U.S. and abroad. They are committed to working for a renewed priesthood of married and single men and women dedicated to serving God through the community of believers.

http://www.catherinecollege.net/
Catherine of Sienna College is promoting gender equality and empowering women for life and leadership through gender and women’s studies!

http://www.fsrinc.org/
Feminist Studies in Religion, Inc. (FSR, Inc.) is a nonprofit organization whose goal is to foster feminist studies in religion in all of its variety and diversity.

Let us know what your favourite bookmarks are in terms of women’s ordination.