Friends, I am sharing today the Global Statement of the Roman Catholic Women Priests (RCWP) to all Synodal Participants: We wanted you to know our thoughts as you prepare for the meetings in Rome in the fall. Please feel free to pass it on to others. –Pastor Kathy

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Roman Catholic Women Priests Global Statement to Synod Participants

Friends, I am sharing today the Global Statement of the Roman Catholic Women Priests (RCWP) to all Synodal Participants: We wanted you to know our thoughts as you prepare for the meetings in Rome in the fall. Please feel free to pass it on to others. –Pastor Kathy

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Roman Catholic Women Priests Global Statement to Synod Participants

INTRODUCTION 

This statement is addressed to Pope Francis and to delegated participants of the Synod on behalf  of the Roman Catholic Women Priests Movement around the world. It is intended to acquaint  you with the existence of this movement which is an important part of the emerging church of  the 21st century. 

Pope Francis has said that all voices must be heard in a Synodal Church in which everyone is co responsible for mission. We are hopeful that this invitation might soon include us as one of the  most marginalized, condemned and excluded groups in our Church. 

WHO WE ARE 

Roman Catholic Women Priests are baptized persons called by God and their communities to  exercise servant leadership as faith-filled ministers of word and sacrament in a discipleship of  equals, much as the early followers of the Risen Christ. In 2002, seven women were ordained in  apostolic succession as Roman Catholic Women Priests. Since then, 265 persons located in 14  countries around the world have answered the call of God to priesthood, and have been ordained  priests in this global movement. The Spirit continues to grace the Church with visionary leaders  to be co-responsible partners in the mission and ministry of the Church, especially the Church on  the periphery.  

The Roman Catholic Women Priests movement is rooted in the experience, theology and vision  of Vatican Council II. This is reflected in our openness to global insights and cultural adaptation;  our affirmation that the church is the people of God gathered in Christ; our openness to  ecumenical and interfaith ministerial relationships; creative and inclusive approaches to  Eucharist; the primacy of individual conscience; non-hierarchical, non-patriarchal leadership; and an emphasis on service. 

Around the world people have listened attentively to the Holy Spirit alive and among us. In spite  of hierarchical resistance to honour the gifts of that same Spirit poured out equally on all baptized,  some among us have responded to the Divine call to priestly ministry to serve those who are  marginalized by institutional regulations and policies. These people also know rejection by the  institution, but remain faithful to God in love and service. 

OUR CHARISM FOR THE PEOPLE OF GOD 

The mission of Roman Catholic Women Priests is to create a renewed priestly ministry in  communities of baptized equals. We foster inclusivity by ordaining women and people in  marginalized genders to create a Church for everyone. We follow Jesus’s example of inviting  everyone to an open table to celebrate and receive Eucharist. 

Roman Catholic Women Priests are nurturing an emerging Church for the future of humanity, a Church which not only believes that all are one in Christ, but lives full inclusivity of all who seek to know the desires of the Divine Heart for the world. They are filling voids of ministry to those  who are not well served by the Church due to hierarchical, clerical systems of the institutional  Church and insufficient numbers of male priests.  

Among the many ministries Women Priests provide are servant leadership in small worshipping communities of equal disciples; use of inclusive language and participatory forms of worship; faith formation; and spiritual growth. Using the gifts of technology for connecting people  globally and ministering to them, communities that were initially limited geographically are now  communities without walls.  

Rooted in Gospel values, Women Priests live and promote justice by taking an active stance against the exploitation of women in the Church and the world. Women Priests support Indigenous and racial justice and welcome immigrants and refugees. Women Priests respect the sacredness of all life and the diversity of all human families. Women Priests are protectors of the sacred earth and the environment. Women Priests make world peace the goal of all humanity. 

OUR CALL TO THE SYNOD 

Roman Catholic Women Priests want Synod participants to be aware of our existence and service  to the People of God. We welcome inquiries to learn more about us. 

We desire that the Synod acknowledge that Women Priests are here, responding to the Spirit who  breathed on the Church at Pentecost and remains alive and active in these days. Women Priests  around the world are serving and leading the Church into new ways of meeting the needs of the  people of God. 

We wish to be engaged with Synod participants to share our stories of call and ministry. We  applaud Pope Francis for talking with women of other denominations about their pastoral  experiences, as he has recently done. Please talk with us, too. Please don’t talk about us without  us. Remove the barriers that excommunicate those who hear God’s call to priestly ministry and  respond to it. 

This statement comes from the heart of Roman Catholic Women Priests around the world and  communities served by them in: 

Austria Canada 

Columbia France 

Germany Great Britain 

Ireland Norway 

Philippines Scotland 

South Africa Spain 

Taiwan United States of America 

Visit our website here: https://www.romancatholicwomenpriests.org/ Contacts to arrange a  meeting with members are listed there.  

Date: 2024-05-01