Preaching on the feast of Mary, Mother of God, Pope Francis denounced widespread violence against women.
Women in the Church
Posted inArts & Culture, Books
Review: Two new novels show the hidden lives of nuns
‘Matrix’ and ‘Agatha of Little Neon’ differ in their historical settings, but they both center on women perceiving the ways of the world with absolute clarity, realizing the extent of their power and deciding to use it for the good of others.
Posted inFaith, News
An Italian nun is now the highest-ranking woman at the Vatican
Pope Francis has appointed Sister Raffaella Petrini, an Italian member of the U.S.-based Franciscan Sisters of the Eucharist, to be secretary-general of the office governing Vatican City State.
Posted inNews, Politics & Society
Pope Francis calls for greater female leadership ahead of G-20 summit
Pope Francis called for greater female leadership in world affairs, telling the Women’s Forum G-20 that “our world needs the collaboration of women, their leadership and their abilities, as well as their intuition and their dedication.”
Posted inDispatches, Faith
Report: Many women serve as ‘de facto deacons.’ Does the church recognize their gifts?
Even though women make up more than half of U.S. Catholics and 80 percent of lay ecclesial ministers, a new report found that Catholic women still struggle to have their contributions recognized.
Posted inExplainer, Faith
Explainer: Pope Francis is naming St. Irenaeus a ‘Doctor of the Church.’ What does that mean?
Is St. Irenaeus really a doctor, or does he just play one on TV? Does he rush to someone’s aid on an airplane? Might he collaborate with Dr. Dre?
Posted inDispatches, Politics & Society
A Franciscan sister joins the fight for Indigenous rights in Brazil
In a region of vast distances, weak infrastructure and a relatively small number of priests, religious and laywomen like Sister Laura are the mainstay of Catholic spirituality.
Posted inFaith, Faith and Reason
Ordaining women to the priesthood will not fix the church’s institutional problems
Perhaps when we ask if women can be ordained, we are asking the wrong question.
Posted inFaith, Jesuitical
Pope Francis said women need more authority in the church. He still has work to do.
Are the voices of women being heard at the highest levels of the church? Do they feel empowered—or limited by the “stain-glassed ceiling”?
Posted inFaith, Podcasts
The Vatican still has a ‘patriarchal mindset’ — but women are challenging it.
In this deep dive episode of “Inside the Vatican,” host Colleen Dulle examines how things are changing for women in the Vatican.