Catholic Campaigners call for solidarity on International Women’s Day

March 8th, 2022 

 Women’s Ordination Worldwide (WOW) is marking International Women’s Day by calling for the all-male leadership of the Catholic Church to show true solidarity with women by recognising them as equals. 

Yesterday Pope Francis appealed for peace in Ukraine and sent two representatives to the border saying: "The presence of the two cardinals is the presence not only of the pope, but of all the Christian people who want to get closer and say: 'War is madness!” We echo the Pope’s call for peace and would love to see women standing alongside those cardinals as spiritual leaders who would then truly represent all Christian people. 

While their presence and solidarity is significant, peace demands justice.  The exclusion of women from priesthood is an injustice that undermines the Church's moral authority in peace-making. So long as the Vatican refuses to embrace women as co-equals in leadership - in the world and at the altar - its diplomatic efforts are compromised. At this time of war and unimaginable loss and pain, we pray for more balance and harmony in the world and this must include the world’s largest organised religion whose capacity to do good continues to be severely compromised. 

#IWD2022 #OrdainWomen