Priests call for female equality

A group of 12 Catholic priests has called for an end to the “systemic oppression” of women in the Catholic Church and said they should be given full equality.

In a statement, the priests, including a number of members of the Association of Catholic Priests such as Fr Tony Flannery, said they believed the example given by the Church in discriminating against women “encourages and reinforces abuse and violence against women in many cultures and societies”.

“In the Catholic Church women, despite being equal to men by virtue of their Baptism, are excluded from all positions of decision making, and from ordained ministry,” the priests said.