It was held at the Spire and outside the Pro Cathedral, highlighting longstanding frustration with the Church’s stance on female ordination – topical for the recent International Women’s Day on March 8.
Soline Humbert, a spiritual director who has felt called to the priesthood since the age of 17, was among the leading voices at the demonstration. Speaking to the Irish Independent, she stated, “Passers-by were supportive of our protest. Many had walked away from the church because of abuse and misogyny. They see that equality for women is just lip service.”
Protesters wore green St Brigid cloaks to symbolise their message, referencing St Brigid, Ireland’s co-patron saint, who was ordained a bishop in the fifth century. Humbert remarked that “the story of St Brigid’s ordination persisted through centuries when women were deemed incapable of receiving ordination. I think it is a message which is right for our times.”
The exclusion of women in the Catholic Church
Despite mounting calls for reform, female ordination was notably absent from discussions at the recent two-year global synod in Rome. While many Catholics worldwide cited it as a crucial issue, Pope Francis removed the topic from formal debate. Protester Colm Holmes, chair of We Are Church International, expressed disappointment, saying, “The can was kicked down the road on women deacons.”
The Irish Synodal Pathway is currently holding consultations on reform, including the role of women in the Church, with discussions ongoing until May 31. Holmes emphasised that the Irish bishops must have “the backbone” to push for real change.
A recent article by We Are Church Ireland discusses how women’s experiences have been shaped by patriarchal traditions, often limiting their roles and voices.
It highlights figures such as St Mary of Egypt, whose life was shaped by societal constraints, and St Catherine of Siena, one of only four female doctors of the Church.
It argues that the Church has systematically sidelined female figures, often reducing their contributions to passive roles. “The history of women in the Christian tradition has been a history born out of confinement.”
Gender bias remains deeply engrained in Church traditions. The Dublin protest echoes broader calls for an inclusive Church that recognises and values women’s contributions. As Humbert put it, “The message is loud and clear: the patriarchal Church has to go.”
