During the Second Assembly of the Fifth Plenary Council of the Australian Catholic Church, we learnt from experience that synodality is not for the faint hearted, writes Sister Patty Fawkner SGS in The Good Oil, July 2022. Australian Catholic Bishops Conference Concerned Catholics Canberra goodsams.org.au/article/what-i…

Everyone is invited to this series of webinars over four Wednesday evenings on August 10, 17, 24 and 31. Time: 7.30pm-9pm (AEST). Cost: $A22 covers all 4 sessions. Event details and registration at garrattpublishing.com.au/blog/post/crea…

Upcoming webinar to unpack the Plenary Decree on Deacons and Women catholicoutlook.org/upcoming-webin…

Ahead of today’s Vatican meetings of all Catholic cardinals around the world, a protest against the exclusion of women from the meeting and urging for women’s ordination.

Women’s ordination advocates came outside the hall where Pope Francis is meeting with the world’s Catholic cardinals with messages written on red parasols. The police are now questioning them. (One is my wife, ⁦Kate McElwee⁩)

A group protesting against the bar on women from ordained ministries as cardinals meet in the Vatican. Police detain the group (presumably for not having a permit to protest). The role of women in the Church has been a prominent theme in local synod reports.

Paul Collins: What is a welcoming Church? eurekastreet.com.au/article/what-i…

A substantial majority of catholic women were concerned about the prevalence of abuse, racism, and sexism in church contexts. As Kath McPhillips + Tracy McEwan (University of Newcastle) found, many also raised issues relating to transparency and accountability. bit.ly/3SsbBa0

'None of the major participants in this sorry saga are entirely without fault. Unfortunately, in this era of culture wars such controversies often feature more heat than light,' writes John Warhurst. eurekastreet.com.au/article/cathol… #Essendon #Religiousfreedom

"We cannot say that abuse is a problem of the past when we have survivors within our society still suffering the long-term consequences of it." The Catholic Church needs deep renewal if its abuse apologies are to mean anything stuff.co.nz/opinion/300717…

The #Vatican's new document today for the ongoing synod process gives a lot of attention to the role of women in the church, including calls for women's ordination as priests. Short thread:

The text of the #Vatican's new document today for the ongoing synod process, which includes voices calling for women's ordination, is now available online here: synod.va/content/dam/sy…

Disquiet growing among survivors at inability of Catholic Safeguarding Standards Agency and nazir afzal to get it right. Open letter sent with many concerns.

Anyways I’ll just read this collection of Catholic women when it comes out next week

Is church safer for young people now? We don’t think so. Very strong piece by Alesha Racine and ⁦Julie Macfarlane⁩ churchtimes.co.uk/articles/2022/…