Close to 50 people gathered in Washington in order to call Pope Francis to open the priesthood to women, reports Newsweek.
The protestors, members of Women’s Ordination Worldwide, demonstrated while the pope prayed with the bishops at St. Matthew’s Cathedral.
According to Newsweek,
Some women lay in the street to block traffic. They were addressed by police officers, who said they could be arrested for blocking the pope's parade path. Later in the day, three men and four women were arrested. Their charges were not immediately available.
Those laying in the street included some women who have been received alternative ordination as priests outside the Catholic Church. These women were excommunicated, according to Duignan. After the arrests, some protesters moved to the sidewalk to lay down in protest.
… "Some of the group have decided they need to take action and block the path of the pope because there is no other way to get the attention of the official church," explained Miriam Duignan, spokeswoman for the organization. "They are just ignoring women—we sent letters, books, we ask to meet with Bishops and are ignored. We are treated like untouchables because we mention women maybe equal to men. This is the only way we can get anyone to talk to us."
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