Women's Pastoral History

Women for Faith & Family is preparing a new section on our web site that will provide an archive on on "women's issues" and the US bishops' conference -- from 1984, when the Bishops' Committee on Women began a nine year effort to produce a pastoral letter on "women's concerns", until their most recent conference document, on professional lay church workers ("lay ecclesial minisers") of November 2005.

Women for Faith & Family was organized in 1984 in response to the US bishops decision to write on "women's concerns" -- in part to counter the view that most Catholic women felt oppressed by the Church and her teachings. (See WFF History, and Affirmation for Catholic Women)

In 1992, after several drafts and extended debates, the conference voted not to issue the draft pastoral letter (then titled "One in Christ Jesus") as an official document of the entire conference; but only as a statement of the BCOW to its Administrative Committee. However, that did not end the response of the conference to "women's concerns", as subsequent actions would show.

An account of how this process developed within the bishops' conference during these years sheds light on the effect and persistence of radical feminist ideology within the Catholic Church in America during the final decades of the 20th Century -- and the counterweight of Catholic women's affirmation of Church teaching.

Much of this record exists only within the files of Women for Faith & Family; thus, an archive of key WFF publications and documents will be of historic interest. We hope to have the archive covering the years 1984-2005 completed by the end of this year. Clearly, "Women in the Church and in Society" remains a topic of concern, action and controversy.

PITTSBURGH – According to an organization called “Roman Catholic Womenpriests” a ceremony will take place on the rivers of Pittsburgh on July 31, 2006 that is represented to be an “ordination” to the priesthood. The following is issued out of concern for those who present themselves for such an invalid ritual, those who conduct it, and those who participate as witnesses since their actions will place them outside the Church. Click title for complete statement. ,Brochure, Bulletin Insert and Questions and Answers for Priests and Parish Leaders were also issued.

Marking a Milestone - ...This year, Women for Faith & Family observes a milestone anniversary...by Helen Hull Hitchcock[Voices, Michaelmas 2004]

U.S. Bishops' Documents on Women, Laity, Family -- A Chronology -- A Chronological list [1992-98] of statements and materials on women, "women's issues" and/or families released, produced, and presented by the National Conference of Catholic Bishops' Secretariat for Family, Laity, Women and Youth, along with a partial list of other related documents or materials.

Statement on Ordinatio Sacerdotalis 1994 -- (“Confusion over these matters was made more public - and the controversy prolonged - by the conflict which developed in the discussions surrounding the U.S. bishops' nine-year attempt to write a pastoral letter on "women's concerns". Some influential theologians, liturgical experts - and even a few bishops - publicly added their voices in support of those feminist movements (such as the "Women's Ordination Conference") who demanded ordination of women as a matter of "justice" for women.”)

The Case of the "Undead" Pastoral, update on "One in Christ Jesus", (pdf file) by Helen Hull Hitchcock, go to pages 5-7 -- Fall 1990 - Winter 1991, Volume V, No. 4 - Vol. VI: No.1

Testimony to Synod on the Laity (Vatican) - 1987 (also sent to US bishops)
Based on Letters Received by Women for Faith & Family from October, 1984 to July, 1987 -- Since October, 1984, when the circulation of the Affirmation for Catholic Women began, several thousand letters from women have been received by Women for Faith and Family. A very high percentage of these letters include personal testimony about the meaning of the Catholic faith in their lives, about the current atmosphere of confusion within the Church, and how this affects them as individuals, and how it affects their families. ...

From “About WFF” page:
Beginnings
In September 1984, six St. Louis women gathered around a dining room table to discuss their concern that the US bishops, who had announced their intention to write a pastoral letter on the subject of "women's concerns", might not receive an accurate picture of Catholic women. The women were concerned about the impression given in the media that most Catholic women feel "alienated" from the Church, and dissent from Church teachings on issues ranging from abortion to ordination. They were aware that feminist theology had influenced many women and Catholic leaders. They wanted to do something positive to overcome this distorted image of Catholic women.... Etc...