We are Catholic Women Speak
Towards a deeper, richer understanding of the Catholic tradition
We are creating a space for open dialogue, theological exploration and collaboration among Catholic women in the worldwide Church.
We seek to bring Catholic women’s voices into dialogue with others in the Catholic Church, with those in other churches and religious traditions, and with wider society, in order to participate in a deeper, richer understanding of the Catholic tradition and its relevance for our times
We do not speak with one voice
We believe in the creativity of struggle and acceptance that comes from learning to respect our differences. We regard these as vital aspects of the process of discovery and transformation that brings us together in our faith.
We speak as women, not as “Woman”
We resist any attempt to develop a theology of “Woman”.
News and events
Misogyny or Reform? Lucetta Scaraffia and Donne Chiesa Mondo
Editor Lucetta Scaraffia and her all-female editorial team have announced that they are suspending publication of the monthly women's magazine, Donne Chiesa Mondo (Women, Church, World) published by the official Vatican newspaper L'Osservatore Romano. Lucetta has been a good
Overcoming Silence – Campaign from Voices of Faith
Make your voice heard #overcomingsilence Catholic Women Speak supports the work of Voices of Faith and their new campaign to gather one million voices in 2019 to encourage the Church to acknowledge the voices
Podcast from Radio Veritas
Catholic View. Women Feature. Overcoming Silence Thursday 7th February 2019. Follow the link below to listen to the latest Podcast edition of the Women Feature from Sheila Pires on Radio Veritas. This programme includes discussion
Find out more about Catholic Women Speak – who we are and what we do
We are telling stories, not spreading ideologies … If you self-identify as a Catholic woman, you are welcome in this space. … We’re a forum for women to say what can we claim, what can we rescue and what must we change to make the Church we love a more hospitable place for women. … Many of our members campaign on different issues, but Catholic Women Speak is not a campaigning group. It’s a forum, it’s a space, and so any individual woman is welcome there, whatever she campaigns on. … We have women from many different cultures, and we have to be sensitive to each another. Language doesn’t travel effortlessly across cultural boundaries. What one person might feel very comfortable supporting and calling herself, another would not. … Our only campaign is to create a space for women to speak. (Tina Beattie)
OVERCOMING SILENCE
Catholic Women Speak in Partnership with Voices of Faith
Zuzanna Radzik (Poland)
Anna Kasafi Perkins (Jamaica)
Catholic Women Speak – Our New Book
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A forum for dialogue
The purpose of the forum is to create an informed and honest space for dialogue around issues relevant to the lives of Catholic women in the Church and society.
Comments and contributions that are respectful, courteous and intelligent are welcome here.
Whatever your gender, you are welcome to join our conversation here.
We are a global network
We are the voices of Catholic women from many different cultures, perspectives and walks of life, united by a shared belief that the Church will benefit from greater inclusion of women’s perspectives and theological insights in the interpretation of doctrine and the development of pastoral practice.
LATEST ARTICLES
Join our conversation
Theology rooted in patriarchy delays restoration of female diaconate
Article from CWS member Christine Schenk, originally published on the National Catholic Reporter 14th May 2019 Overall I was more encouraged than discouraged by Pope Francis's May 10 discussion about women deacons at the triennial meeting of the
The Future Church – A Home to Hope For?
This is the text of a talk given by Tina Beattie at a gathering of
Betrothed to God at a Price
Blog post by CWS member Lillian Vogl, originally published on Patheos.com 26th April 2019
Good Friday: I am angry
Blog post by CWS member Marie Kopp, originally published on Patheos.com 30th March 2018
Church’s foremothers proclaim Jesus from beyond the grave
Article from CWS member Christine Schenk, originally published on the National Catholic Reporter -
Men and women, young people and adults, communicate differently. They speak different languages and they act in different ways. Everyone has something to contribute, because they have their life experiences, they look at things from a different standpoint and they have their own concerns, abilities and insights. The unity that we seek is not uniformity, but a “unity in diversity”, or “reconciled diversity”.
– Pope Francis, Amoris Laetitiae – The Joy of Love
Get involved with Catholic Women Speak today
Join a vibrant network of Catholic women who all support each other on their personal and spiritual journeys.
Join our online community
We welcome Catholic women to join our Facebook group to dialogue with us, and to support other Catholic women around the world working for a more inclusive Church.Take part in our closed Facebook group
This private Facebook group is open to bona fide members who self-identify as Catholic women. It offers a secure and confidential forum for dialogue, awareness raising and theological engagement around issues of concern to women in the Church and society. If you wish to join in the conversation please contact us
Join a local group
Catholic Women Speak is a worldwide movement. Find out if there is a group in your area that you can join and support.How to join a group
Even though we take full advantage of online communication, we know that this does not replace the value of meeting face to face in groups to support each other. Find out if there is a group near you for you to join.
Join our conversation
Whatever your gender, you are welcome to join our conversation here.Join our forum
The purpose of the website is to create an informed and honest space for dialogue around issues relevant to the lives of Catholic women in the Church and society. Comments and contributions which are respectful, courteous and intelligent are welcome here.
We are delighted to collaborate with L’Osservatore Romano in distributing the English translation of their Women Church World magazine through our website.
L’Osservatore Romano – Women and Politics
Women and Politics - March 2019 Women and politics – and in particular women who are both Catholic and political – is the subject of this issue which thus analyses politics, religion and women
L’Osservatore Romano – Reforms not revolution
Reforms not revolution - January 2019 We do not need a revolution to give women the place they deserve in the Church, nor is it indispensable to grant them the priesthood or the diaconate so
L’Osservatore Romano – Taste
Taste - December 2018 In devoting this second issue in the series on the five senses to taste, and hence to cooking, to eating together, to sharing and to harmony, we had in
In collaboration with Voices of Faith
Catholic Women Speak and Voices of Faith work together to promote the representation and participation of women in the life of the Church. We do this through publications, media promotions, educational activities, networking and social media, and by organising events such as the International Women’s Day conference organised in Rome every year by Voices of Faith, and the symposia in Rome organised by Catholic Women Speak to coincide with Synods of Bishops in 2015 and 2018.
In collaboration with Catherine of Siena College
We work closely with the college which provides an online learning environment for the promotion of higher education in the fields of theology, religion, gender and social justice, intended particularly but not exclusively for women in the global South who would not otherwise have access to university education.
Both the Network and the College are administered by the University of Roehampton in London, under the umbrella of the Digby Stuart Research Centre for Religion, Society and Human Flourishing.