Women in The Church

We create safe spaces for priests and women to become thought-partners in mutual accompaniment beginning with the reception of one another’s stories, their hopes, and laments.

Our working group sponsors a variety of free programing. Check out our Conversation in the Spirit series between priests and women.

Our Next Event: February 5th, 3PM EST

Understanding and honoring the lived experience of our LGBTQ+ Catholic siblings, parents, family, priests, and allies. Information and registration.

Upcoming Events

AUSCP Webinar Library

Conversations in the Spirit Video Templates

Called To Serve

Catholic women’s stories of opportunities and obstacles

Should She Stay or Should She Go Now?

How could the Church walk more closely with young women?

Download the facilitator script

What Happened at the Synod?

The Synodal Synthesis calls us to “find ways to involve the clergy (deacons, priests, bishops) more actively in the synodal process during the course of the next year.” Alongside this, it asks us “to promote a church in which men and women dialogue together.”

Discerning Deacons

Discerning Deacons is a group whose mission is to “engage Catholics in the active discernment of our Church about women and the diaconate.”

More About Discerning Deacons

A Way to Walk Together for a Synodal Church

Selected Quotations

We draw attention to and inspiration from these selected quotations from XVI Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops.

See the complete document, For a Synodal Church: Communion Participation, Mission.

By virtue of Baptism

By virtue of Baptism, women and men have equal dignity as members of the People of God. However, women continue to encounter obstacles in obtaining a fuller recognition of their charisms, vocation and place in all the various areas of the Church’s life. This is to the detriment of serving the Church’s shared mission.

Discernment needs to continue

Additionally, the question of women’s access to diaconal ministry remains open. This discernment needs to continue. The Assembly also asks that more attention be given to the language and images used in preaching, teaching, catechesis, and the drafting of official Church documents, giving more space to the contributions of female saints, theologians, and mystics.

Full implementation of opportunities

This Assembly asks for full implementation of all the opportunities already provided for in Canon Law with regard to the role of women, particularly in those places where they remain underutilised. There is no reason or impediment that should prevent women from carrying out leadership roles in the Church: what comes from the Holy Spirit cannot be stopped.

Mary Magdalene

One woman, Mary Magdalene, was entrusted with the first proclamation of the Resurrection. On the day of Pentecost, Mary, the Mother of God, was present, accompanied by many other women who had followed the Lord. It is important that the Scripture passages that relate these stories find adequate space inside liturgical lectionaries.