September
22, 2012
Dear
Archbishop Gregory,
It is with joy that I am
announcing to you my upcoming Ordination to the Priesthood in the Association
of Roman Catholic Women Priests. While I
understand this choice will cause some pain for you and many other Catholics in
that you will exclude yourself from recognizing the event, it brings to me the
greatest joy. I feel a sincere fulfillment
of my vocational calling.
By
way of introduction, I come from Painesville, Ohio the birthplace of the first
Archbishop of Atlanta, Paul Hallinan.
Through his inspiration and calling, I began coming to Georgia as early
as the 70’s with the Sisters of the Humility of Mary. I worked summers and holidays at St. Thomas
the Apostle and thought Atlanta would become the hope of a renewed church. Disillusioned by a series of experiences in
the North, I left community and moved South in 1987. I taught at St. Joseph’s in Marietta for 10
years in addition to working part time at the ORE. In 1997, I was asked to work full time in the
department. I served for 4 years until the office was restructured. During that time, the Archdiocese supported
my ongoing formation by allowing me to get a Masters in Pastoral Formation and
Religious Education. With my background as a sister, 27 years of experience in
parishes and schools and this degree, I was fully formed to serve. It was my hope to have spent these last 10
years at the Archdiocese, but that was not to be.
As far as a vocational tract,
mine has been one I would not want talented and educated women to pursue. It has been far too difficult with roadblocks
that deeply injure the soul and spirit.
When I discovered I could be a Roman Catholic and serve as a Woman
Priest, and listened to the depth of faithfulness these women are bringing to
Catholicism, I found hope in a renewed priesthood where I could stand with you
as an equal. This is my hope and my goal.
In closing, I would like to say
that I am probably a little older than you, have served within the tradition
faithfully, and against all odds, I have not gone elsewhere. Neither of us chose our vocations, our
calling came from God. It is far too
difficult to continue to serve as a woman within the existing framework, and
since I have not been called to another tradition, I am standing still,
proclaiming this call and living in joyful hope that someday soon we will not
only be able to talk, we will be able to celebrate a renewed priesthood that allows
me to stand with you and welcome all.
I have enclosed a documentary, Pink
Smoke Over the Vatican, a booklet by Fr. Roy Bourgeois where he
addresses his Journey from Silence to Solidarity and a great booklet on
Women’s ordination from a theological perspective, with my invitation. There would be no greater joy in Atlanta,
than you reaching out to at least talk with me about this issue, offering
Catholics an opportunity to discuss the underlying sexism that forms the basis
of our exclusion. Won’t you come to our
ordination carrying the joy of my gospel call with you?
Very
sincerely,
Diane
Dougherty
50
Williams Pride Way
Newnan,
GA 30265
“It is
within our power-to light the watchfires of faith on a thousand hills of North
Georgia. Their flames will purify the
fears and hatreds, the indifference and falsehood of our society. Their heat will raise the dead bones of old
customs to a new life. Their warmth will
recreate here, a Catholic body alive to the gospel …….”
Archbishop Paul Hallinan
Atlanta Archdiocesan
Synod of 1966
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