International News and Actions

April 4, 2005
Press Release

WOW 2005 Press Release

Press Release:Date: April 4, 2005

From: Catholic Network for Women's Equality (CNWE), Ottawa Chapter

Title: Pope's death elicits mixed response from women

The grief expressed by Canada's Catholic Network for Women's Equality (CNWE) on the death of John Paul II is complicated. While CNWE members celebrate his good works, such as his influence on the fall of Communism, his long overdue apology to the Jewish people, his stand against war, and his outreach to the world's youth, they are also, as always, mindful of John Paul II's rejection of their pleas for dialogue on women's issues. CNWE hopes for a more positive perspective from the next pontiff.

"Pope John Paul II's teachings about women reinforced a patriarchal system bar none and this in the face of scriptural teaching that God created women and men as equals and that in Christian baptism there is no male or female," says Virginia Lafond.

Lafond is an Ottawa CNWE member and co-chair of the Host Committee for the upcoming Women's Ordination Worldwide Conference (WOW 2005) to be held in Ottawa from July 22 - 24.

Lafond continues: "We want the new pope to act quickly to recognize women as fully adult and fully able to participate in all aspects of Christian baptism. Indeed, we hope and pray that the new pope will embrace more faithfully Vatican II's principles, particularly openness to dialogue. Respect needs to be accorded to all - including to those in the church expressing faithful dissent to John Paul II's teaching."

For more information contact: Virginia Lafond (613) 728-6908;
(613) 722-6521 x 6610;
virginialafond@rogers.com
See also: www.WOW2005.org