Catholic Women Ordination


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About ourselves

We are a UK-based group of women and men who care deeply about the Roman Catholic Church and want to be a part of building a Church community that truly lives the justice demanded by Jesus.

We believe this justice demands that women be equal with men.

Women equal with men means not only that women have the opportunity to fulfil their own vocation, but also that the Church community benefits from their experience and their strengths in the ministerial priesthood.

Some of us are women who have a vocation to the Roman Catholic priesthood.

We are a forum to

examine
challenge
develop

the current understanding of priesthood.

Individual members share their views

We like to give ordinary members the chance to tell us why they believe in ordination of women.

Scholastica

"I joined C.W.O. because I believe the concept of priesthood needs reform, not only in terms of who is allowed to test and practise their vocation, but in the interaction of the ministry with other people - and their skills and talents.

The priesthood could be empowering rather than overpowering, gathering the gifts of the whole community together in partnership. Not obsessed with the Eucharist! A missionary ministry, carrying news and inspiration from one community to another.

We could welcome back to the priesthood ordained priests who can't practise their vocation because they are married. We could open up training to married and celibate males and females. It could be flexible, with people taking vows for life or for a few years.

I'm actively involved in educating parishes in the development of liturgy and liturgical music. I believe in 'Eucharist without Walls', where social justice is central to the understanding and practice of worship. My vocation is to develop communities along these lines within England and Wales.

If the Church as an institution is going to survive, it has to change its concept of priesthood to be inclusive. We cannot continue the institutional hypocrisy of advocating social justice, equality and the status of all the baptised as 'a royal priesthood', whilst we deny people basic equality within our own communities."

Keith

"I'm a member of C.W.O. because I can't ignore injustice going on right under my nose. I believe we all have equal rights before God, whether 'male or female, Jew or gentile, slave or free', and I can't believe God wants a church where injustice between the sexes is perpetuated. (I'm also an active member of Amnesty International.)

What's wrong with the idea of women as priests? Why can't we have married priests? And while we're talking about sex and gender - why can't we be tolerant of gays and lesbians?

I think I'm meant to be here for all the women who are called by God to be priests. They need to know they are not alone.

I don't think we will have ordained women in the Catholic church in my lifetime (I was born in 1957). But one day there just won't be enough men with vocations to go around all the parishes, and the bishops will have to do something!"