There is much to ponder in the synod synthesis report, “A Synodal Church in Mission.” As I talked with my sister about the proposals, I expressed a desire to gather with women who were not in my close circle to hear their perspectives. She immediately thought of some of her friends and women in her Read more
One of the surprises to come out of the Synod on Synodality was a call for better liturgy. The final report of the October 2023 session of the synod referred to “the widely reported need to make liturgical language more accessible to the faithful and more embodied in the diversity of cultures.” The English-speaking church Read more
The Catholic Church in New Zealand is setting its sights on introducing an inclusive lectionary for Mass. Improved translations for the opening and post-Communion prayers are also under consideration. The initiative was confirmed by Bishop Stephen Lowe, president of the New Zealand Catholic Bishops Conference and the bishops’ representative on the International Commission on English Read more
Catholic women in Britain are backing a petition against a new gender-exclusive Bible translation. The petition asks the Bishops’ Conferences of England and Wales and Scotland to reconsider their decision to use the gender-exclusive Bible at Mass. So far over 150 people have signed the petition. The bishops’ controversial decision involves scrapping the Jerusalem Bible Read more
In a possible first, a public conversation has been held at the centre of the Church’s hierarchy on the limits of women’s participation in Church structures. An event called Voices of Faith, held to mark International Women’s Day last week, was put together as an opportunity for women to share their stories of faith. The Read more
A book, “Eucharist in the Local Church“, about inclusive liturgical change, was recently launched in Auckland. The book is about how to achieve real participation and engagement in liturgy. People who want to find creative solutions to the tension between the needs of the their local church and the official liturgical books will find this book Read more
Catholic women are being urged to write to their bishop to protest at sexist language in the new version of the Roman missal. Fr Sean McDonagh of Ireland’s Association of Catholic priests said it was obvious from the language of the new missal that not a single woman had been consulted while it was being Read more