Apologise to the Women of the Church
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All Catholic Men, and the Pope and Bishops
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An Invitation to Catholic Men to apologise to the Women of the Church
This is an invitation to offer an apology to the women of the church for the discrimination and unjust treatment women have received from our church. We ask you to join us in this apology by signing this statement. The list of signatories will be presented to Pope Benedict XVI on International Womens Day, March 8, 2010.
Throughout much of human history women have been treated as if they were not equal to men. While many societies and nations have taken positive steps to eliminate this injustice, the Catholic Church has been reluctant to change. We have not admitted women to full leadership in the community, and in this we continue to discriminate against them.
Women may also sign to show their acceptance of this apology and their support for the petition.
OUR APOLOGY TO THE WOMEN OF THE CHURCH
In spite of St. Pauls words: "There are no more distinctions between Jew and Greek, slave and free, male and female, but all of you are one in Christ Jesus" (Galatians 3,28), the church has refused to acknowledge that equality.
We have ignored the lesson contained in the example of Jesus when he made his resurrection known first to Mary Magdalene.
We ignore the practice of the early church where many women hosted and led communities, and instead we perpetuate the attitude common in ancient times according to which women are treated as inferior.
It is undeniable that womens ordination is a justice issue. Its basis is the value, dignity and equality of women (Sister of Charity Louise Akers).
We believe this to be true. Unfortunately we have not always seen this, but instead we have lived, thought and acted as willing participants in the male-oriented, clergy-dominated church.
We now apologise to the Women of the Church for this injustice which belittles your contribution to the life and mission of the church, insults your dignity, and denies you a share in the leadership of the Christian community.
We believe that the church has no right to repress, confine or subjugate even one of its members.
We make this apology as an expression of support for and solidarity with all Catholic women. We wish to acknowledge our solidarity in particular with those religious women who have adapted their lives and apostolic activities in accordance with the directives and spirit of the Second Vatican Council (1962-1965). We also express solidarity with those women who have responded willingly, but unsuccessfully, to Gods call to participate fully in ministry in the church.
We therefore raise our voices now, calling on the church, through the pope and the bishops of the whole world, to give women equal opportunity with men. Let all levels of ministry, leadership, and governance in the church community, including priesthood, be open to all.
This is an invitation to offer an apology to the women of the church for the discrimination and unjust treatment women have received from our church. We ask you to join us in this apology by signing this statement. The list of signatories will be presented to Pope Benedict XVI on International Womens Day, March 8, 2010.
Throughout much of human history women have been treated as if they were not equal to men. While many societies and nations have taken positive steps to eliminate this injustice, the Catholic Church has been reluctant to change. We have not admitted women to full leadership in the community, and in this we continue to discriminate against them.
Women may also sign to show their acceptance of this apology and their support for the petition.
OUR APOLOGY TO THE WOMEN OF THE CHURCH
In spite of St. Pauls words: "There are no more distinctions between Jew and Greek, slave and free, male and female, but all of you are one in Christ Jesus" (Galatians 3,28), the church has refused to acknowledge that equality.
We have ignored the lesson contained in the example of Jesus when he made his resurrection known first to Mary Magdalene.
We ignore the practice of the early church where many women hosted and led communities, and instead we perpetuate the attitude common in ancient times according to which women are treated as inferior.
It is undeniable that womens ordination is a justice issue. Its basis is the value, dignity and equality of women (Sister of Charity Louise Akers).
We believe this to be true. Unfortunately we have not always seen this, but instead we have lived, thought and acted as willing participants in the male-oriented, clergy-dominated church.
We now apologise to the Women of the Church for this injustice which belittles your contribution to the life and mission of the church, insults your dignity, and denies you a share in the leadership of the Christian community.
We believe that the church has no right to repress, confine or subjugate even one of its members.
We make this apology as an expression of support for and solidarity with all Catholic women. We wish to acknowledge our solidarity in particular with those religious women who have adapted their lives and apostolic activities in accordance with the directives and spirit of the Second Vatican Council (1962-1965). We also express solidarity with those women who have responded willingly, but unsuccessfully, to Gods call to participate fully in ministry in the church.
We therefore raise our voices now, calling on the church, through the pope and the bishops of the whole world, to give women equal opportunity with men. Let all levels of ministry, leadership, and governance in the church community, including priesthood, be open to all.
255 Signatures
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kate vandenberg
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Sue Thornton
- Comments
- Thankyou
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Barry Fletcher
- Comments
- A great initiative
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Paschal Kearney
- Comments
- just trying to live the teachings of Jesus - I need you; you need me; we all need each other
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anthony carroll
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- a little candle but better to light it than curse the darkness
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Peter Ryan
- Comments
- Thy Kingdom Come
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Helen Oxenburgh-Lowe
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- The people of God are speaking out - will someone listen for once!!
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Angela Thomas
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- A courageous and timely initiative
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Jim Houston
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Madeleine Fletcher
- Comments
- В
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Francis Brown
- Comments
- Why have we not heard Jesus till now?
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Jane Anderson
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Marian Oxenburgh
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Len Francis CFC
- Comments
- I hope some action follows.
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Paul Zimmerman
- Comments
- I apologise to the Women of the Church for your mistreatment.
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Pius Jones
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Brian Coyne
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- What a wonderful initiative. I fully support it and pray that the Church leadership might respond albeit my suspicion is that they probably sincerely believe at the moment they have nothing to apologise about.
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Barry Sinclair
- Comments
- The way the church has continued to opress women & to fail to grant them the equality in all parts of the church, including access to the priesthood is a total disgrace.
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Tom Lee
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- Centuries old injustice needs prompt remedy.
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Rob Brian
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- An apology is long overdue. Without the women the church would have ceased long ago. Only giving women complete equality with men in the church will save the church.
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nicholas agocs
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- About time !
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Mary Nola Viney (nee Graham)
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- why am I always applying bandaids, when Jesus showed us how to heal?
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+ Bishop Anthony MacKillop Stanfield.OSB,AM.
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Susan Downes
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Mary Gilchrist
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Deacon Bryan Sykes
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Elisabet Albertsson
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Stephen de Weger
- Comments
- If it wasn't for women in the church I would be nowhere.
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Ray Otto
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- I pray that we may all be united equally respecting our differences
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Agnes Connellan
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D Farmer
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shirley owen
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- as a catholic woman who married a member of the Anglican communion, I believe the ordinance that demanded the non catholic party to sign away the rights to have children brought up in the Catholic faith was also a violation of human rights. As a father of three sons I believe the Church's demand to have a young man do this was an injustice that deprived him of full participoation of his fatherhood.
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David Jefferys
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Eva Winiarski
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Father Andrew Gentry FCSF
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- This apology is way overdue!
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Dr. Aidan A. Licari
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- GREAT idea!
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David Maguire
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Richard J. Westley
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- The Catholic Church is at present an embarrassment to its members because of its treatment of women.
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R J Multhauf
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Aram Enel
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john hill
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- women are the backbone of the catholic church
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Helen Hendrey
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- .. that all may be one.
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Ann Thompson
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- All are equal in the eyes of God. Ann Free Spirit.
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Shane J. Wood cfc
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Gerard Galvin
- Comments
- could not agree more
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Colin Lowe
- Comments
- May the Church hierarchy for once listen, take notice and act.. so.... Jesus can cry tears of JOY .
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Marie Butcher
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- Besides women who are second class there are those ordained men who left the priesthood and have been marginalised by the church. The apology I see is to all those who have been marginalised byt the Church
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Frank Purcell
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- If there is no debate allowed, how can the Church find out what is its belief? Infallibility doesn't mean that the Pope has a hot line to the Holy Spirit. Vatican II recommended that he consult the College of bishops to find out what is the belief of their churches.
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Bernadette McPhee
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- Thank you. We are wise and we have a lot ot offfer.
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Bill Easton
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255
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