We reach out to many people

 

We reach many

Our statistics show that about 1200 visitors browse our website every single day. They read and download millions of our documents in a year.

We offer our information to practically all sections of the Roman Catholic Church through our wide range of languages.

This is my self portrait. Read my story!
Ivelisse Colón Nevárez OFS

From Puerto Rico

"I dedicated many of my spare hours to navigate the Internet and to explore and investigate about everything. One night, I was surfing the net and thinking about themes related to women and womanhood. Suddenly, an idea came to my mind, and just for curiosity, I wrote the phrase “women+priests” in a search engine, just to check out if somebody was investigating or researching on women as priests. The first link that appeared was related to a site whose URL was www.womenpriests.org. It even carried my language Spanish!

I was amazed of what I have found. Somebody actually was studying seriously the matter! While reading the diverse articles, I noticed that many of them were about what I was very interested, like the influence of culture and superstitions in Church doctrines. I discovered the existence of groups actively working on woman priesthood and became aware of the existence of books about the matter. Also, I had the chance to read the original Vatican documents about the matter and to find other resources on the Net about the same theme.

I was finally finding answers to my life long questions about women and religion. I finally understood why women were treated the way we were. I comprehended that it was not God the author of women’s role and position in society and religion; we, the human beings, are the real authors. We and our superstition, fear and ignorance. I knew this all the time, in my heart and mind, but I was not able to speak about this in any understandable words. In that moment, I was beginning to be able to do it. Ivelisse, Puerto Rico

Visit our Italian section!

*** “I’ve just come across your website. What a wonderful and fine collection of documents, articles, and testimonies! And I like your sense of humour. Your illustrations make me smile. I also feel deeply moved because I ’ ve gone through a long spiritual search myself. I even wandered off into Buddhism. Now I ’ m back in the Church but determined to help bring about the so necessary reforms!” (translated from Italian ) Stefanella, Florence

*** Visit our German section!“I recently obtained my doctorate in theology, but, because I have written on the ordination of women, I can ’ t get a post at any Catholic University here in Germany . I ’ ve now joined the Lutheran Basler Mission and have been appointed New Testament lecturer at a Protestant College in Kalimantan , Indonesia . ” (translated from German) Marianne, Düsseldorf

*** Visit our French section!“I was 11 years old in 1945. Around me I saw hatred, violence, destruction ... I asked myself: Why all this suffering? Why do we live? Does God exist? My mother told me that such questions were pointless . . . But when I found religion, I became a daily massgoer. I truly met God. The desire to become a priest grew in me. I wanted to give my life for God, to celebrate Mass, to preach about him, to carry him to sick people. I was shocked to be told that, as a woman, I could not be a priest . . . I became a pastoral worker and have been looking after parishes for over three decades. How can I help?” ( translated from French ) Véronique, Toulon

Visit our Spanish section!*** “I’m studying for the priesthood and, for some years, have publicly expressed my support for women priests. Unfortunately the bishop of my diocese now refuses to ordain me saying my ideas are ‘dangerous ’ . I feel lost and sad. Freedom of expression certainly has its cost in the Church. For I would really want to be a priest.” (translated from Spanish) Carlos , Bolivia

*** See the overview of our language sections!“Sadly many are afraid to take a stand. We have found that to be very true right here in our own diocese. While there are those who say they believe in what we are standing for, they are not open to taking a public stand because of fear of losing their own position or fear of more backlash by the Vatican in our diocese. Many have said the time is not right. I say if not now then when? It feels as if there is a ground swell right now and this may be the time the Holy Spirit is using to bring about the needed change in the Church.” Hazel, Australia