I guess there are pockets of this all over the country, but being from Rochester, NY, I'm more familiar with the goings-on in that diocese.

Woman claiming to be ordained faces excommunication -- CNS 6/28/06

"It's a mistake to overvalue the ordained priesthood -- although priests are very important, nonordained women have often influenced church history more than any male clergy"

"that women, as well as men, can and do image Jesus Christ."

Some women seeking ordination -- NCR 1/27/06

... delivered a large bouquet of roses to the bishops ... the roses are a symbol of St. Thérèse of Lisieux, whose feast day it was, who also felt called to priesthood

(I thought The Little Flower felt called to missions but maybe it was both.)

The dream of egalitarian priesthood is being lived within a Catholic, if not Roman, context at a parish in Rochester, N.Y., where the Revs. Mary Ramerman and Denise Donato along with Jim Callan, a former diocesan priest, serve a “full service” Catholic community.

Spiritus Christi was formed by parishioners who left Corpus Christi Parish in 1998 ... Spiritus Christi holds three weekend Masses plus daily Mass, enrolls 250 children in faith formation classes ...

Like most cities, Rochester is consolidating parishes, closing two out of three ... because they can't field the staff.

I wonder what sort of education and training these women have had. Seminary, perhaps?

Jeff's aunt who is Episcopalian shared a bit of her struggle to adjust to a female priest in her home parish. But her conclusion was that she did a fine job.

Years and years ago, I met a young woman on retreat who left the Catholic Church for the Methodist Church because she felt called to be a pastor.