Pensioner calls for Mass boycott

THE pensioner who has called for a one-day boycott of Sunday Mass in protest at the Church’s attitude to women has said she has been receiving support for her stance over the past 24 hours.

The National Women’s Council of Ireland also said it has been contacted by several Catholic women who were “deeply hurt” by the Church’s recent pronouncements which suggested the ordination of women priests was as grievous a sin as paedophilia.

The international reform movement, We are Church also contacted 80-year-old Jennifer Sleeman, from Clonakilty, to voice their support.

“It has been very positive so far. Complete strangers have come up to me on the street, saying ‘we’re with you’,” said Ms Sleeman.

“I certainly haven’t turned my back on the Church. I would be very sad to see it disappear.

“However, I believe the Church will be severely diminished because of how it handled recent scandals and the issue of women.

“I have spoken to friends of mine who are priests and also to my son who is a monk at Glenstal, Fr Simon, and they think my action will be a good thing,” she said.

Ms Sleeman, who said she was horrified by the Ryan and Murphy reports, has called upon female Church-goers to boycott the Church on September 26 urging them to “join your sisters. stay at home and pray for change. Together we have strength”.

“Let the hierarchy know by your absence the days of a male-dominated Church are over.”

Responding to Ms Sleeman’s call for action, the Catholic Church’s Communication’s office said: “We would encourage people not to absent themselves from the Eucharist where we re-enact the Last Supper and the Paschal mystery, following the command of Jesus, ‘Do this is memory of me’.”