News and Views
EVENT:
ARTICLES
Marie Bouclin Ordained as a Roman Catholic Priest
By François Brassard, Media Coordinator for RCWP, Canada
On Sunday, May 27, 2007 at West Hill United Church in Toronto, Ontario, five women and one man were ordained as Roman Catholic priests and deacons by bishop Patricia Fresen of Germany. read more > >
The Journey from Apartheid To a Radically Reformed Catholic Church
by Dr. Patricia Fresen
“Prophetic obedience often involves taking a stand for justice in the face of injustice or discrimination. read more > >
The Lady is a Bishop
by Marjorie Reiley Maguire
"This is not being done for you. It is so this work of justice may continue in the Church." With these words, an unnamed, male, Roman Catholic bishop of a diocese, who is in full communion with Rome, told Patricia Fresen that he had decided to ordain her as one of three female Roman Catholic bishops read more > >
Women’s Ordination: Love Trumps Doubt
By Rosemary Ganley
. . . the Women-Priests Movement, after a weekend conference where 500 people from 20 countries broke the papal ban on discussing women's ordination, conducted the "illicit but valid" ordination of nine North American women to the diaconate and priesthood read more > >
A Model For The Renewal of Ordained Ministry
By François Brassard
Corpus Canada, the national association of married Catholic priests, promotes a different vision of ordained ministry, one that I believe is more in keeping with the traditions of the early Christian church. read more > >
A New "Kairos"- Canada's first "Roman" Catholic woman priest welcomed back to Vancouver Island Setpember 10, 2005
by Phil Little
On July 25, on a boat floating in international waters among the Thousand Islands, near Gananoque, Ontario, nine women were ordained priests and deacons, according to the ancient ritual of the Roman Catholic Church. They were ordained by three women bishops, who in turn were consecrated as bishops according to the tradition of the church. They were consecrated by male bishops whose ordinations were conducted according to tradition – preserving the continuity of ordination from the times of the early church read more > >
Wiesbaden Congress Report
by François Brassard, Ladysmith, BC
The Congress of the International Federation of Married Catholic Priests that took place near Wiesbaden, Germany September 16-19, 2005 had two parts: a full day’s conference on “Ministry in Today’s Church” and a General Assembly where delegates could discuss and decide matters pertinent to the Federation. In this report I would like to comment solely on the conference given by Dr. Alice Gombault of Paris, France on “Women Ministries.” Though Dr. Gombault did speak about the important contributions of women involved in non-ordained ministries in today’s Church, it was her analysis of the women’s ordination movement that I found most interesting. read more > >
Homosexuality: A Christian Problem ?
by Desmond Wilson
Recent requests for public recognition of life-long relationships between men and between women is meeting with expected opposition. Some of this comes from those who plead Christian moral standards. But Christians who have respect for the rights and dignity of other people must reassess Christian attitudes to homosexual people. We must use our knowledge of the Bible and science and human rights to make amends for the way homosexual people were treated in the past. We have an absolute duty to do all we can to ensure that no debasing of them or their lifestyle will be approved by Christians again. read more > >
Corpus Mid-island News
by François Brassard, Ladysmith, BC
In late March of this year, Connie and I were contacted by Bill Manseau of Corpus USA, who serves as the Dean of the Master of Divinity Program for Global Ministries University, an on-line university for theological studies. He asked us if we would serve as Sacramental Mentors for a candidate on Vancouver Island who is a member of Catholic Network for Women's Equality and who will be the first Canadian woman to be ordained as a Roman Catholic priest. We heartily agreed. And thus has begun an exciting adventure for us all. read more > >
A Dream Come True
By François Brassard
In the last issue of The Journal, I wrote two articles. In “Conversations With Jesus,” I was inspired to create an organization that would be called “Ministry Without Borders.” In “Mid-Island News” I wrote about the connection made between our mid-island faith community and Michele Birch-Conery of Parksville who was in preparation for ordination to the Roman Catholic priesthood.
read more > >
The Path To Spiritual Recovery
by Connie Kurtenbach, Ladysmith, BC
I 'd like to think I was devoted to the Institutional Church, not addicted to it. Most of us can't easily imagine being addicted to a religion, a church, a god. After all, it's too holy and apostolic. It houses all truth. It is the straight and narrow pathway to heavenly life. Every metaphor seems to sound good. Remember the rituals on television around the pope's death? What could be better than that?
read more on this Path to Spiritual Recovery > >
"Sisters, Carry On
: Roman Catholic Women Ordained Deacons and Priests by Women Bishops
by Bridget Mary Meehan
On July 25, 2005, nine Roman Catholic women were ordained deacons and priests by three women bishops. Sailing down the sparkling international waters of the St. Lawrence Seaway, the boat symbolized the church floating in the waters of divine love, calling forth the gifts of women to equal ministry. read more > >
Nine Catholic women unofficially ordained
as priests in Canada
by Janie Gosselin, Associated Press writer
TORONTO -- Despite the threat of excommunication by the Roman Catholic Church, nine Catholic women were unofficially ordained as priests and deacons yesterday aboard a tour boat near Ottawa. read more > >