gender justice – Feminism and Religion

It’s time—past time, really, that we gather as an interfaith community to state, unequivocally, “Gender equity shouldn’t stop at the doors of our churches, synagogues and mosques.” That’s why I’ll fast at the end of the month with Equal in Faith: Women Fast for Gender Justice in Religion.

On August 26, women of many faiths will mark National Women’s Equality Day by joining together in a nation-wide fast for gender justice and the equitable inclusion of women in their religious traditions. Sponsored by the Women’s Ordination Conference and Ordain Women, organizations seeking priesthood for women in Roman Catholicism and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons), respectively, the day-long fast will culminate in an interfaith prayer service from 6:30-7:30 PM at St. Stephen and the Incarnation Episcopal Church in Washington, DC, a congregation noted for its long-standing support of civil and religious equality.

Those who cannot attend the service in Washington, DC are encouraged to participate virtually through Equal in Faith’s Facebook event page. In particular, Equal in Faith’s organizers, of whom I am one, invite those who join us in fasting to post a personal statement in support of gender equity in their religious tradition on our Facebook event page. Continue reading “Equal in Faith: Women Fast for Gender Justice in Religion by Lorie Winder”

During July 8-11, 2012 twenty Catholic feminist leaders met in a retreat center near Baltimore to discuss their concerns and hopes in the light of the recent and ongoing attacks of Catholic bishops on women and especially on feminist work in the church. The group consisted of representatives from many sectors of Catholic institutions and movements. There were the founders of a peace and justice movement of the Sisters of Charity and the Institute for Communal Contemplation and Action. There was a pastor and leadership trainer from an alternative parish and a writer for the National Catholic Reporter.

Many in the group were professors of theology or ethics at Catholic, Protestant or state schools. Among them were teachers at Whittier College, Claremont School of Theology, Santa Clara University and San Jose University in California, Loyola University in Chicago, St. Catherine in Minnesota, Drew University in New Jersey and Boston College. Catholic reform movements were well represented, with leaders from Dignity, the Women’s Ordination Conference, Call to Action and RomanCatholicWomenPriests. There was a teacher at Marymount School in New York City, the President of Marymount School in Los Angeles and a doctoral student in theology. Continue reading “Catholic Feminists Meet, Strategize by Rosemary Radford Ruether and Theresa Yugar”