New Women, New Church W O M E N ' S O R D I N A T I O N C O N F E R E N C E Vol 41 v. 2 $2.00 Fall/Winter 2018 Knock, Knock. Who’s there? The Vatican Suffragists! B Y K A T E M C E L W E E The XV Ordinary Synod of Bishops on Young People, the Faith, and Vocational Discernment approved a final document calling the inclusion of women in decision-making structures a "duty of justice" and recommended "making everyone more aware of the urgency of an inescapable change.” This is a big deal. No mention of the feminine genius. No mention of complementary gender roles. However, make no mistake: the bishops did not just decide to include a line or two about women in the final document — those came from the voices outside the synod—the knocking on the doors, from the grassroots. W. OC supporters witness outside the Vatican gates as prelates walk in to the Synod. On the opening day of the synod “Cardinal Tagle: Let women vote! I stared at him and hesitated only for a twenty-five activists from around the Cardinal Cupich: Let women vote!” We moment before returning to chant world gathered outside of the recited until our voices were hoarse. alongside the group: "Knock, knock! Sant’Uffizio gate (located in front of We pumped our fists in the air when Who's there?” the Congregation for the Doctrine of we cried out “Knock! Knock!” the Faith). Under the guise of a touring After I refused to be silent or give over prayer group, we gathered together Our peaceful demonstration called out my passport, the scene quickly and recited two “Hail Mary’s” as a nod the exclusionary policies of the escalated. I tried to walk away and was to Pope Francis’ call to all Catholics to Vatican's Synod of Bishops that deny grabbed and forcibly held by my arm. pray the Rosary in October. women a vote. While thirty-four women were allowed to join the 267 In an amazing act of solidarity and With no hesitation, we began our own male members to participate in their strength, members of our group prayer, a litany of the bishops discussions, none were granted voting surrounded both me and the police participating in the synod process, rights. This was despite the fact that officer and offered up their passports in followed by the chant: “Let women two non-ordained men, both religious my place. Eventually I escaped the vote!” After five names, we shouted brothers, were full voting members. officer’s grasp and stood to the side our rallying call: “Knock, knock! Who’s while the rest of our group was there? More than half the Church! While we roared, two Irish prelates detained, harassed, and forced to delete Knock, knock! Who’s there? More than detoured from their path to the synod camera footage. Some in the group half the Church!” and embraced Ursula Halligan, a prayed the rosary while the police familiar face from the Irish media and brought in horses to intimidate us. I constantly scanned the streets for part of our delegation. police or someone who would tell us to After everyone had been processed by stop, but the “Synod Singers” got The police arrived and the head officer the growing number of police officers through our entire songbook of names, came up to me as the organizer and (including a van unit with bulletproof and started again at the top. shouted into my face: vests), BE SILENT! BE SILENT! BE SILENT! continued on page 6 In this issue From the Executive Director ... 2 Ministry of Prophetic Obedience ... 7 International Discussions ... 3 News and Notes ... 8 Walking with my call ... 4 Herstory: R A P P O R T Series ... 9 -12 Emerging Voices ... 5 Report from a Sister Alliance ... 14 Ministry of Irritation ... 1 & 6 Book Review ... 15 WOC Merchandise ... 16 From the Executive Director N E W W O M E N , N E W C H U R C H is published two times a year by the This issue continues our series from our Women's Ordination Conference (WOC). sisters in RAPPORT with Dr. Georgia WOC works for the ordination of women Fuller and Kathy Sullivan Vandenberg as deacons, priests and bishops into an recounting their call stories on pages 10- inclusive and accountable Roman Catholic 11. The RAPPORT series continues with a Church special feature on page 9 from Andrea Johnson on WOC’s encounter and E D I T O R S friendship with Ludmila Javorova, who was ordained in 1970 in the underground church of Czechoslovakia. Kate McElwee Diana Wear Amid the noise and action outside the Sheila Peiffer, Associate Editor Vatican, the heartbreaking revelations of abuse and pain in the Church, and the crisis of leadership with the USCCB, I Send address corrections and all think you will find this issue of New correspondence to: Women, New Church a powerful touchstone of hope, or a least a reminder WOC National Office of why and how we strive for PO Box 15057 D E A R W O C M E M B E R , transformation. The testimonies of Washington, DC 20003 women called are not just stories, but (202) 675 1006 glimpses into the ministries of so many [email protected] This issue of New Women, New Church who continue to serve those who have reflects our commitment to sharing and been silenced, erased, or abused. I am celebrating the stories of women called to grateful for our community of priestly N A T I O N A L B O A R D O F a renewing priesthood and ministering to people who model radical love and people and communities on the margins. communion to our Church and world. D I R E C T O R S Throughout 2018 we launched the Sheila Peiffer, President Catholic Women Called video series Blessings and gratitude, featuring short messages from women Bob Shine, Vice-President called to priesthood. Rev. Dr. Victoria Marie shared in the series her difficult Kelly Doss, Treasurer discernment to leave her religious community to serve those who feel left Tracy Garrison-Feinberg, co-Secretary behind. We find more of her story Executive Director starting on page 7. We also hear from Beth Longo, co-Secretary Rev. Kori Pacyniak, who shares a radical path toward liberation and reminds us Sabrina McLaughlin that even within so-called inclusive spaces P.S. New year, new look, New Women, and language, some people can still feel New Church! I hope you enjoy this Jennifer O'Malley unheard (page 4). Jennifer Reyes Lay refreshed design of our newsletter. Give helps us unpack these unconscious biases us your constructive critique—we’re Abigail Rampone within ourselves and the progressive always aiming to grow and better serve Catholic movement with her report on our WOC community. page 14. In a new section, Emerging Voices, we hear from Felicia Hazzard in a A D V I S O R Y B O A R D reflective interview on race and gender in her experience in the U.S. Church (page Regina Bannan 5). Elisabeth Schussler Fiorenza Teresa Forcades, OSB Our campaign to amplify voices and Jeannine Gramick, SL stories of women called led us to the Celine Goessl, SCSC Vatican gates at the opening of the Synod Harry R. Halloran Jr. on Youth, Faith and Vocational Mary E. Hunt Discernment this past October. Our Andrea Johnson witness for women’s voting rights at the Theresa Kane, RSM synod is featured on the cover and a Anthony Padovano presentation from our roundtable Donna Quinn, OP discussion, “Discerning Women: Voices Rosemary Radford Ruether Outside the Synod,” just a few paces from St. Peter’s, can be found on page 3. In principle and practice WOC values and seeks a diverse membership. There shall be no barriers to full participation in this organization on the basis of gender, race, creed, age, sexual orientation, national origin, or disability. A subscription to New Women, New Church is included in WOC membership for a fee of $45. WOC is incorporated under 501c3 as a non-profit organization. Contributions are tax-deductible accordingly. Copyright: Women's Ordination Conference 2018. All rights Reserved. 2 International Discussions Discerning Women: Voices Outside the Synod B Y P A O L A L A Z Z A R I N I A presentation at WOC's Synod event in Rome. Good morning to all. It is a great joy to be here with you to breathe the fresh air of a young, lively, walking Church! I am Paola Lazzarini and I represent Women for the Church, a new group, born about a year ago when forty women from different parts of Italy met through social media and wrote our Manifesto. After the publication, many local groups started and maintain their own active groups of women for Jamie Manson, Paola Lazzarini, Zuzanna Radzik and Jacqueline Straub in Rome the church in Rome, Milan, Turin, for WOC's "Discerning Women: Voices Outside the Synod event October 4, 2018 Naples, Genoa, Cagliari, Catanzaro, and Lugano, Italian Switzerland (in these groups we train, share and advocate). The news of clerical child abuse is will accompany them and help them growing like a wave, and bishops all discern in these uncertain times their What is perhaps useful to remember around the globe have vocation in the Church and in the here, in an international assembly like undermined not only the institutional world.