Activists and sisters together in Rome

The message for Votes for Catholic Women is shining bright around the world and making waves at the Vatican. While the Vatican plays defense about an indefensible exclusion, we cry out louder than ever that denying religious women a vote is an injustice.

There's a lot happening. To get to the point, here's what you can do:

Sign the new petition for women's voting rights at the Amazon synod! (Last year's petition garnered nearly 10,000 signatures - let's get even more this year.)
Keep writing to Cardinal Baldisseri, secretary general of the Synod, and demand that women's voting rights be first on the agenda when the Synod begins its official business on October 7.

Yesterday evening the sisters of the Swiss Fahr Monastery joined WOC and FutureChurch for a prayer service outside the Synod office in Rome while our "Votes For Catholic Women" symbol glowed on a closed door. Together we prayed:

Kate McElwee leads the sisters in prayer

It's impossible to ignore these courageous sisters, and not just because of their capes!

At the first press conference for the Synod, secretary general Cardinal Baldisseri was asked about voting rights for women religious at the Synod. He responded that Pope Francis decided to "derogate from the norm" by allowing a non-ordained male religious to vote, but did not do so for religious women.

But make no mistake - we are being heard, and the Vatican is caught in their cowardice, hiding behind very changeable, man-made "rules." We will keep asking questions, keep making noise, and keep shining a light on the inequalities of representation, voice, and votes within the Synod Hall.

Outside the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith

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Our weekend in Washington, D.C. of re-envisioning and reclaiming our Church is approaching quickly! Come for a rally to speak the truth in love about women's call to ordained ministry; hear prophetic feminist voices as they join in conversation for the first time; or experience a Mass led by a Roman Catholic Woman Priest. Or do all three--details below!

Tickets are still available for our fall event, Radicals and the Rule, a conversation between Benedictine sisters Joan Chittister and Teresa Forcades in Washington, D.C. on the evening of October 11. Don't miss the her-storic meeting of these amazing women!

This Monday marks the 40th anniversary of Sr. Theresa Kane's prophetic call for the inclusion of women in all ministries in the Church in a speech in front of Pope John Paul II in Washington, D.C. We will honor her courage and continue to "speak the truth in love" at a rally outside the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception on Friday, Oct. 11 at 12:30 p.m.

So much is happening - the Spirit is moving - and together we won't stop! Thank you for keeping our movement noisy and prophetic in a Church that aches for justice and equality.

With gratitude,

Kate McElwee

Executive Director

Come to "Mass on Mass" on October 13!

Join WHIMM (Washington Home Inclusive Monthly Mass) for a public, open-air Mass led by a Roman Catholic Woman Priest on Sunday, Oct. 13 at 4 p.m. on Massachusetts Ave. by 35th and Fulton NW. The triangle park is located on "Mass" Ave. near the Naval Observatory, just two blocks up the hill from the Vatican Embassy.

Bring a friend, a lawn chair or blanket, and a snack to share afterwards if you'd like. Mass will happen rain or shine.

WHIMM is a Roman Catholic movement begun in February 2019 by Washington, DC-area neighbors to help renew the Church by experiencing a new model of ordained ministry. Once a month, WHIMM holds a home Mass led by a Roman Catholic Woman Priest from the Baltimore-Annapolis-Washington Living Water Inclusive Catholic Community.