Feminist Dissidents: latest

Briefing: the latest Patricia Phillips article, 'The Feminist Threat to the Church: Part VIII' is this month published in Christian Order (November 2007) and is available on the Catholic Feminism website, where the earlier articles in the series can be found.

The article gives complete proof of the dissent from Catholic teaching of 'Women Word Spirit' (formerly 'Catholic Women's Network') and the eagerness of Bishop Vincent Malone, episcopal liaison with the National Board of Catholic Women, to turn a blind eye to this in order to list them once again in 2008 edition of the national Catholic Director. It is also listed in the 2007 Diocesan Directories of Brentwood, Cardiff and Westminster.

WWS vigorously supports the campaign for the ordination of women, supporting vigils for this cause in Westminster and Edinburgh. It also enthusiastically promotes the full range of tedious liberal complaints against Church teaching, and the groups that make them, notably 'Catholics for a Free Choice' (pro abortion and contraception) and dissident homosexuals. The idea that WWS is sincere in claiming that it 'acknowledges and accepts the authentic teaching of the Church' is laughable, but apparently this claim is enough for Bishop Malone.

The WWS website's links to other groups is sufficient demonstration of this, but the Phillips article gives further evidence from its newsletter, officers, and activities. What does Bishop Malone need to see? The group's point in its self description is that they

believe that the gospel speaks about freedom from oppression and calls women to full participation in all aspects of life and the church as a matter of justice.

Everyone should be well informed and on their guard against this insidious group which dominates the Bishops' Conference agency, The National Board of Catholic Women. This is an outrageous injustice to Catholic women and indeed the whole Church.