NEWS & VIEWS
from a CATHOLIC perspective

      WASHINGTON, DC (CWNews.com) - The National Conference of Catholic Bishops' issued a statement on Wednesday calling for the promotion of women in the Church, except in roles forbidden to them in canon law.

      The Committee on Women in Society and in the Church called on Catholic leaders to appoint women to leadership positions, promote collaboration between men and women in the Church, and express appreciation for the gifts of Catholic women. The statement, entitled "From Words to Deeds: Continuing Reflection on the Role of Women in the Church," was approved by the US bishops' administrative committee in September.

      The committee gave specific recommendations for collaboration, calling it a necessary step. "For the Church, collaboration is not an option; it is the way that mature Christians express their unity in Christ and workwoman who had been hired as an associate pastor at her inner-city Catholic parish was fired on Thursday by interim parish administrators filling in after the previous pastor was removed.

      The former pastor, Father James Callan, was pastor at Corpus Christi Church for 22 years. Bishop Matthew Clark of Rochester reassigned Father Callan to another parish in the diocese last month for conducting same-sex weddings, distributing Communion to non-Catholics, and allowing Mary Ramerman, 43, a mother of three, to concelebrate Masses. "My heart's broken," said Ramerman, who served as associate pastor for 12 years. "I also feel angry with the Church that it can't stand up for what it believes in."

      Father Callan had said his removal was ordered by senior Vatican officials, but Bishop Clark said it was his own decision to remove the priest from his post for violating "definitive Church teachings."

      together to accomplish His mission in the world." The committee chairman, Auxiliary Bishop John Dunne of Rockville Centre, New York, called the statement significant. "Words to Deeds is being offered to the Church in the United States, both to foster and encourage the place of women in leadership," Bishop Dunne said. "Words to Deeds both challenges and points the way for all church personnel to embrace the gifts of women, in a collaborative manner, for building up the body of Christ and bringing it to full stature."

      One woman who won't be promoted anytime soon is a woman who had been hired as an associate pastor at her inner-city Catholic parish in Rochester, New York was fired on Thursday by interim parish administrators filling in after the previous pastor was removed.

      The former pastor, Father James Callan, was pastor at Corpus Christi Church for 22 years. Bishop Matthew Clark of Rochester reassigned Father Callan to another parish in the diocese last month for conducting same-sex weddings, distributing Communion to non-Catholics, and allowing Mary Ramerman, 43, a mother of three, to concelebrate Masses. "My heart's broken," said Ramerman, who served as associate pastor for 12 years. "I also feel angry with the Church that it can't stand up for what it believes in."

      Father Callan had said his removal was ordered by senior Vatican officials, but Bishop Clark said it was his own decision to remove the priest from his post for violating "definitive Church teachings."