Catholic Network for Women’s Equality (CNWE), Canada Continues to Engage the Synodal Process

The Synod on Synodality Process

In 2021, Pope Francis initiated a process to seek global input from Catholics about how we could become a more synodal church. “Synodality” (walking together) requires the participation of all to discern what the Spirit is calling the Catholic Church to be in our time.

After this two-year consultation, a new kind of Synod Assembly occurred in Rome in 2023. For the first time, 20% of participants were non-bishop voting delegates, including women and youth.

CNWE’s Synodal Experience in Rome and Canada: Something New is Being Born

As delegates met inside the Synod Hall, nine CNWE members joined reform-minded Catholics in actions outside the Assembly, raising our voices for women’s equality and an inclusive, accountable Catholic Church.

It became apparent when we met with two of the Canadian women Synod delegates in Rome, that something new was happening at this Synod. The delegates’ experience of roundtable ‘conversations in the Spirit’ (with an emphasis on deep listening, sharing from experience, and prayer) meant that the voices of women, among other marginalized groups, were being heard.

As CNWE member Louise Dowhan from Winnipeg, MB said,

“Being in Rome, as women’s greater participation was discussed in the Vatican Assembly gave me a sense of hope for a renewed way of being church.”

The press coverage of the Synod and reform actions in Rome amplified this message of hope around the world. A blog of CNWE’s Rome experience can be found here.  

In Winnipeg, members and friends of CNWE gathered on October 4 to pray in solidarity with CNWE members in Rome and with all Synod delegates at the grave of former Winnipeg Archbishop Cardinal Flahiff. Cardinal Flahiff advocated for women’s participation in all aspects of ecclesial life, and at a Synod in Rome in 1971, he presented the Canadian bishops’ proposal to open a discussion on the possibility of ordaining women.” Learn more about the Winnipeg event here.

A Call for Co-Responsible Participation in the Work of Synodality

CNWE has been continuing the Synodal conversation by sharing the hope of our Rome experience with Catholic, ecumenical and Roman Catholic Women Priest (RCWP) communities.

CNWE is also embracing synodality by working with new conversation partners: hosting an online gathering with Synod delegate, Sr. Elizabeth Davis in February, and in March, we will partner with Concerned Lay Catholics as part of their ‘Nurturing Synodality Series.

The Synod resources, Synthesis Document “A Synodal Church in Mission” , “Towards 2024” and “Worksheet” invite all members of the church to consider the question: “HOW we can be a Synodal Church in mission?” prior to the 2024 Synod Assembly.

Catholics who have been engaging questions of deep importance in the life of the church (including structural changes to church ministry and governance) must make good and urgent use of this interim period between Synodal Assemblies.

CNWE welcomes the challenge of working toward a church that incarnates in word, action and structures, the radical equality, inclusion, and love of Christ.

We hope that Canadian Synod delegates, clergy and bishops will join with CNWE and all Catholic individuals and groups by planning concrete opportunities for robust, inclusive dialogue at local, regional, and national levels. May this ‘something new’ in the life of our Church be guided by the Spirit to grow and flourish in our time.

Calgary woman joins Vatican march calling for ordination of women to the priesthood | Global News

From Global News, read the full article featuring CNWE member Jeanie McKibbon:

Calgary woman joins Vatican march calling for ordination of women to the priesthood

CNWE and WOW Praying Together

Photo courtesy of the Women's Ordination Conference: https://www.womensordination.org/

Yesterday, October 3, CNWE’s delegation to Rome and other supporters of women’s ordination from around the world were welcomed into the historic Basilica of St. Praxedes in Rome, for a vigil to pray for women’s voices to carry throughout the synod process. 

The WOC notice says:

“Steps away from the mosaic of Theodora epsicopa, we prayed together for courage, for persistence, and for the church to recognize the valid calls of women and people of all genders to ordained ministry. The Spirit-filled gathering marked our entrance into this time of synod as hopeful people, willing partners in dialogue, believing that the Holy Spirit can enlarge the tent to include our voices.”

Watch the full video of the prayer service on the WOC YouTube channel: 

Let Her Voice Carry: Women’s Ordination Worldwide Prayer Vigil

CNWE DECRIES VATICAN DECISION TO DISMISS FR. ROY BOURGEOIS

The Vatican Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith (CDF) has dismissed and canonically stripped Fr. Roy Bourgeois (a Maryknoll priest for 40 years) of his status as a Catholic priest, because of his public support for the ordination of women in the Roman Catholic Church.

CNWE, a Canadian grassroots organization for women’s equality in both the church and the world, decries the Vatican’s decision based on three criteria:
i) the ‘primacy of place’ that following one’s informed conscience has in Catholic teaching,
ii) Fr. Roy’s work for justice and peace as a Maryknoll priest
iii) the hypocrisy inherent in the Vatican’s dismissal of Fr. Roy, when Catholic bishops who have covered up clergy sexual abuse remain in ‘good standing’ with the Vatican.

From years of work for justice and from conversations with women who felt called to serve the church in priesthood Fr. Roy Bourgeois determined that “when there is an injustice, silence is the voice of complicity.” Fr. Roy began to speak about his support for women’s ordination in the Catholic Church and attended the ordination of Roman Catholic WomenPriest Janice Sevre-Duszynska in August 2008. The Vatican responded by asking Fr. Roy to recant his support for women’s ordination or face excommunication. When Fr. Roy responded that it would go against his conscience to recant, he was dismissed and laicized (meaning that in the eyes of the hierarchy he is no longer a priest). In July 2010, the Vatican reinforced the prohibition against women’s ordination by labeling it a “grave crime” in the Catholic Church.

As a Maryknoll priest, Fr. Roy served the poor in Bolivia and El Salvador in the 1970’s. Since then, he has been instrumental in mobilizing a movement against the US School of the Americas that served to bolster dictatorships in Latin America through the use of military torture for political dissidents. Fr. Roy’s Christian zeal for justice has driven him to go where others fear to tread.

The greatest hypocrisy of this harsh ruling against Fr. Roy, is that, although the Vatican document also names clergy sexual abuse a “grave crime”, numerous Catholic bishops who covered up these crimes remain as Bishops in ‘good standing’ in the Church.

CNWE stands in solidarity with Fr. Roy as his conscience has led him to prophetically witness to the fundamental equality of all baptized women and men in the Catholic church.

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”.

November 28, 2012

Nourishing the Soul Online, Part 2

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.