Three female bishops–two of whom have been excommunicated–presided at the nearly three-hour service on Monday that challenged the church’s long-standing ban on ordaining women.
"I firmly believe that we need to break this unjust law and therefore change the system," Bishop Patricia Fresen of South Africa said Sunday during a news conference.
According to official Catholic teaching, male-only priesthood dates to Jesus’ selection of men as his Apostles.
It’s time that changed, said Sister Patricia Bergan, a member of the women’s religious community the Sisters of St. Francis and an administrator at St. Andrew the Apostle Church in Syracuse, N.Y.
When Bergan, Cathy Gregory and Meme Woolever, all of Syracuse, heard about the event, they decided to drive to the eastern Ontario town to see if they could participate. After waiting in the hot sun on the pier for more than an hour, they were allowed on the boat.
"This is great," Bergan said. "It’s history."
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