Yesterday, more than 50 women’s ordination supporters in Rome gathered at a church containing the relic of St. Mary Magdalene’s foot to walk in her footsteps, urging the church to listen to the voices of women calling out for equality. Calling the church toward the good news of gender equality. We came from around the globe to say: In the spirit of conversion called for by the synod, we urge all members of the church to be unafraid of pursuing new paths that empower women as equals.Walk with us.
Amid the jostling throngs of tourists, we marched in prayerful silence in solidarity with those who have been silenced, told to quiet their vocation, make small their dreams. We walked with our ancestors like Mary Magdalene, and generations of women who walked a difficult path to live their truth.
Through our silence, our colorful, bold, peaceful, REAL presence spoke volumes, as excited onlookers snapped photos and expressed their support, and a cadre of press documented our pilgrimage. At Castel Sant’Angelo we broke our silence, telling the Pope and the hierarchy: If you recognize our equal dignity, WALK WITH US. If our church is welcoming “todos, todos, todos,”WALK WITH US. If you believe in the promise of the synod, WALK WITH US. If you trust the Holy Spirit to create something new, WALK WITH US.
With banners and signs echoing suffragist slogans from the past, we made our presence and persistence known through chanting and song.
While our vigil was registered and “permitted” by Rome, once we concluded, those bearing women’s ordination buttons or even simply wearing purple were largely stopped by police from walking toward St. Peter’s. This unnecessary targeting of women is a reminder that our message and embodied presence remains a threat to the status quo.
Nevertheless, we persist! Our footsteps were joined by those of supporters around the globe, from Philadelphia to Brussels, Los Angeles to Jerusalem, and beyond. Please follow on social media as we share photos and videos from this global day of action. Your voices have carried – are carrying – and this synod is already different, and better, because of it. We make the path to equality by walking together!
For equality, Kate McElweeExecutive Director Katie LaczProgram Director
