<p> <em>Twenty-seven Catholic organizations from around the globe issue statement denouncing the oppression of women and the inadequate response to child sex crimes<br /> </em></p> <p> Yesterday the Vatican issued a clarification of its canonical procedures for how dioceses should handle priests who sexually abuse children. As part of the statement they have added that the &quot;attempted ordination of a woman&quot; has now been added to the list of &quot;delicta graviora&quot; or most serious crimes in church law alongside the sexual abuse of minors.</p> <p> Twenty-seven Catholic organizations issued the following joint statement in response:</p> <p> We the undersigned express our solidarity with Catholics who continue to seek equality including those who practice feminist ministries and those who are ordained. We know these women and men to be firm in their faith and courageous in their work as they seek an inclusive and accountable church undeterred by threats of excommunication or other canonical penalties. In addition we stand with our brother priests and bishops who are also being threatened by this new policy for their support of women&#39;s equality in the church. Furthermore we take great offense that good faith struggles for gender equality could be misunderstood as a sacrilege and placed on par with the sexual abuse of children. In 1976 the Vatican&#39;s own Pontifical Biblical Commission concluded there is no valid scriptural reason for denying ordination to women. Therefore we welcome such efforts to expand the scope and variety of ministry and we celebrate women&#39;s faithfulness despite huge institutional obstacles.</p> <p> We are gravely disappointed that the Vatican would largely repackage its sexual abuse policy norms from 2001 in yesterday&#39;s re-issued statement without adding many meaningful changes to canonical procedures on how to handle the sexual crimes of its religious leaders. We stand with survivors in calling for the release of the names of all credibly accused Catholic religious leaders and for the Vatican&#39;s immediate adoption and implementation of global child protection policies. Nothing less is adequate to the crying needs of a community torn asunder by its own leaders&#39; crimes.&nbsp;</p> <h3> Catholic Organization Signatories</h3> <p> <strong>Association for the Rights of Catholics in the Church (ARCC) USA</strong><br /> Patrick B. Edgar D.P.A. M.Div. President<br /> patedgar_2005@yahoo.com<br /> www.arcc-catholic-rights.net</p> <p> <strong>BASIC (Brothers And Sisters In Christ) Ireland.</strong><br /> Contact: Una Ruddock<br /> +353 1 621 6816<br /> www.basic.ie</p> <p> <strong>DignityUSA</strong><br /> Marianne Duddy-Burke Executive Director<br /> 617-669-7810<br /> www.DignityUSA.org</p> <p> <strong>Call To Action USA</strong><br /> Jim FitzGerald Executive Director<br /> 773.404.0004<br /> www.cta-usa.org&nbsp;</p> <p> <strong>Catholics for Choice- Canada</strong><br /> Rosemary Ganley Coordinator<br /> www.catholicsforchoice.ca</p> <p> <strong>Catholic Coalition for Church Reform USA</strong><br /> Paula Ruddy Bernie Rodel Michael Bayly Co-chairs<br /> (612) 379-1043&nbsp;<br /> www.cccrmn.org&nbsp;</p> <p> <strong>Catholic Network for Women&#39;s Equality Canada</strong><br /> Paula MacQuarrie Coordinator<br /> www.cnwe.org&nbsp;</p> <p> <strong>CORPUS USA</strong><br /> Contact: William Manseau<br /> www.corpus.org</p> <p> <strong>Corriente Somos Iglesia Spain</strong><br /> Raquel Mallavibarrena Coordinator<br /> +34 649332654<br /> www.somosiglesia.net&nbsp;</p> <p> <strong>Cat&oacute;licas por el Derecho a Decidir Mexico</strong><br /> Maria Consuelo Mejia Director<br /> +5255 5658 1163<br /> www.catolicasmexico.org&nbsp;</p> <p> <strong>Cat&oacute;licas por el Derecho a Decidir Spain</strong><br /> Mar Grandal President<br /> 352 88946</p> <p> <strong>8th Day Center for Justice - Women&#39;s Group USA</strong><br /> www.8thdaycenter.org</p> <p> <strong>Femmes et Hommes en Eglise/Genre en Christianisme France</strong><br /> Danielle Penuel-Monneron President<br /> (0)2 33 90 78 10<br /> www.fhe.assoc.fr</p> <p> <strong>Institute for Feminism and Religion Ireland.</strong><br /> Mary Condren Th.D. Director<br /> Tel: 001-353-1-4624504<br /> www.instituteforfeminismandreligion.org</p> <p> <strong>Interreligious Convention of European Women Theologians</strong><br /> Lee Wax Coordinator<br /> 0044-208 884 0476<br /> www.iketh.eu</p> <p> <strong>Kerk Hardop Netherlands</strong><br /> Marleen Wijdeveld President<br /> Isaac W&uuml;st Editor-in-Chief<br /> 0031-20-441.3339<br /> www.rk-kerkplein.org</p> <p> <strong>National Coalition of American Nuns USA</strong><br /> Contact: Donna Quinn<br /> www.ncan.us</p> <p> <strong>Noi Siamo Chiesa (Italian Section of IMWAC) Italy</strong><br /> Contact: Vittorio Bellavite<br /> vi.bel@IOL.IT</p> <p> <strong>Nous sommes Aussi l&#39;Eglise France</strong><br /> Lucienne Gouguenhem Vice-President<br /> 33 1 45 88 04 92<br /> www.nsae.fr</p> <p> <strong>Pax Christi Maine USA</strong><br /> Bill Slavick Coordinator<br /> 207-773-6562<br /> <a href=http://paxchristimaine.org>paxchristimaine.org</a></p> <p> <strong>RAPPORT USA</strong><br /> Conatct: Gloria Ulterino</p> <p> <strong>Roman Catholic Faith Community Council of the Federation of Christian</strong><br /> William J. Manseau Evelyn Hunt and Thomas Quinn Co-Chairs<br /> 603-886-7158<br /> www.federationofchristianministries.org</p> <p> <strong>Roman Catholic Women Priests Europe-West. </strong><br /> I. Riedl Coordinator<br /> tel. 0049-089 845 830<br /> <a href=http://romancatholicwomenpriests.org>romancatholicwomenpriests.org</a></p> <p> <strong>Roman Catholic Womenpriests-USA Inc</strong><br /> Contact: Alice Iaquinta<br /> 414-791-9952<br /> aliceiaquinta@hotmail.com</p> <p> <strong>Women&#39;s Alliance for Theology Ethics and Ritual (WATER) USA</strong><br /> Mary E. Hunt and Diann L. Neu Co-directors<br /> Women&#39;s Alliance for Theology Ethics and Ritual<br /> 301 589-2509<br /> www.hers.com/water</p> <p> <strong>Women&#39;s Ordination Conference USA</strong><br /> Erin Saiz Hanna Executive Director<br /> 202-675-1006<br /> www.womensordination.org</p> <p> <strong>WomenPriests.Org International </strong><br /> Therese Koturbash Coordinator<br /> +44 (0)1923 779 446</p>