Inspiring women of the Church gather in Rome (livestreamed event!)

On March 8th, International Women's Day, a group of internationally recognized Church leaders will gather in Rome to share their stories as women of faith. The event will also be livestreamed, so check out the website for details on tuning in!

Deb, executive director of CTA affiliate FutureChurch, will be in Rome for the event. Deb says that the event is intended to highlight those working for women's rights around the world, including some in dangerous and difficult situations. The panel which she is moderating, however, focus on the experiences of women in the Church. "With only about 4 % of leadership in top curial offices being female, there is a lot of room to grow. Women should be in high level decision making positions in the Church throughout the Church, but particularly in the Vatican." she says. Deb says examples like the reports from Cardinal O'Malley's Commission for the Protection of Minors (8 of the 17 commissioners are women) and the adoption of a roadmap toward promoting women's leadership which was adopted in India (it's creator is speaking at the event) make it clear that "women are obtaining key roles in shaping new policies important for the health of the Church."

The day long symposium will also feature powerful stories about the international issues impacting women and girls, from human trafficking to food insecurity to access to education. Our Church is a powerful political force in the world, we are thrilled to see the powerful women pushing to make sure that power is used to make the world a safer and more equal place for women!