Vatican summit tackles women’s ordination with a nod from Pope Francis The synod on synodality gets the ball rolling on the question of female clergy, but the final decision will be up to Pope Francis, by Claire Giangravé

 Thank you, Claire Giangravé for this hopeful article! 

 I sensed an openness and enthusiasm in my conversations with bishops and synodal delegates during the ten days I was in Rome in October. 

My prayer is that Pope Francis will be open to the Spirit speaking through  Roman Catholic Women Priests who have been creating a more loving, just and compassionate Church. 

For 21 years women priests have been working in our local areas to make a Church for everyone by baptizing children of parents who love their faith but do not attend a regular parish, by officiating at weddings of divorced and remarried, by anointing elders who had no parish community but wanted to receive the Anointing of the Sick and for the marginalized and excluded who wanted a Catholic faith community where they were warmly welcomed and not judged because of the sexual orientation. The list goes on and on. 

Why should we be heard? For all those reasons and because we are equal members of the Church by our baptism and minister on the inside edge of the Church fostering a wider tent in inclusive communities and ministries everyday! The  first step Francis could take  toward healing is to remove all canonical punishments against the members and supporters of our movement for following their consciences and leading the Church towards the full recognition of women and all genders in ordained ministry.

Bridget Mary Meehan ARCWP

https://religionnews.com/2023/10/23/vatican-summit-tackles-womens-ordination-with-a-nod-from-pope-francis/