On Wednesday next I am taking part in a round table discussion on the ordination of women in Rome. This is organised by Women’s Ordination Worldwide (WOW). It is not, as you can guess, taking place in the Vatican!!
But I am glad to be there. Over the past few years I have become more and more convinced that the full equality of women is the most fundamental problem in the Catholic Church. It is not something that is going to go away; on the contrary, it will become more important as time goes on, and will be the cause of many more women leaving the Church.
My position on this matter is summed up well in a letter recently written to the Cardinals advising the Pope by John Shea, an Augustinian priest I met in my travels in the States, and who impressed me greatly.
Below is the text of his letter:

Source: – Tony Flannery – priest & writer