Open the door to dialogue
As doors around the world are opened to Roman Catholics during Pope Francis’ Jubilee of Mercy, one door remains inexplicably closed.
During this extraordinary year — and 22 years of Ordinatio Sacerdotalis —Women’s Ordination Worldwide (WOW) calls on Pope Francis and the Catholic hierarchy to courageously open the door to dialogue on women’s ordination. It has been 40 years since the Vatican’s own commission declared there is no scriptural barrier for women’s ordination.
June 1-3 marks the Vatican’s Jubilee for Priests. WOW lifts up all women who are called to the priesthood and all who work for equality in Church structures. The pain of this closed door is felt deeply around the world and perpetuates discrimination and injustices against women and girls in society.
Open the door to Dialogue: Wednesday June 1st, 3-5 PM
La casa internazionale delle donne
Via della Lungara, 19 Roma (Sala Tosi)
Join WOW to commemorate our 20th anniversary with a conversation on theology, history, and the possibility of dialogue with:
Fr. Tony Flannery, an Irish Redemptorist priest censured by the Vatican and ordered to cease priestly ministry due to his support for the ordination of women; Rev. Dana English, Assistant Curate at All Saints’ Anglican Church in Rome; Jamie Manson, National Catholic Reporter Books Editor and acclaimed columnist, and Dr. Marinella Perroni, Professor of New Testament at Università Pontificia Sant’Anselmo in Rome, where she was president until 2013.
WOW signature Drinks reception: WEDNESDAY JUNE 1ST, 5-6 PM
LA CASA INTERNAZIONALE DELLE DONNE
VIA DELLA LUNGARA, 19 ROMA (SALA TOSI)
Join WOW activists and speakers for our 20th anniversary celebration and reception. Serving canapés and WOW signature cocktails.
Women Priest Project with artist giulia bianchi: Wednesday JUNE 1ST, 6 - 8 pm
LA CASA INTERNAZIONALE DELLE DONNE
VIA DELLA LUNGARA, 19 Roma (SALA TOsI)
This photography exhibition explores the life and faith of Roman Catholic Women Priests that are excommunicated by the Vatican because they disobey a canon law that says that only a male can be ordained priest. Since 2013 Bianchi has met more than 70 women in United States and Colombia. www.womenpriestsproject.org
STREET EXHIBITION FROM 29 MAY TO 7 JUNE
An exhibition of Bianchi's work will also be held in the streets of Rome in the areas of Trastevere and Saint Peter's The photos will be printed as manifests and bill posted on city walls.
“Inspired by prophets and mystics, against clericalism and power, women priests open their communities to divorced, gay, and all those whom the Church does not invite to their Eucharistic table. I was shown a model of world where if there is no justice for the smallest and the weakest, then there’s no justice at all. To me those women are a symbol. They are showing us the primacy of conscience and how to renew our own tradition.”
WOW Witness for Women priests: a visual guide to opening the door to dialogue
Friday JUNE 3rd, 8 AM - Piazza pia
WOW activists will hold a “purple stole” witness (the international symbol for women’s ordination) and offer a visual guide to opening the “Door to Dialogue.” WOW will then walk the pilgrim’s path to St. Peter’s as the Jubilee Mass for Priests gets underway. Pope Francis has said, “this Jubilee Year of Mercy excludes no one,” so we will take our place in prayerful vigil in the Square.
