VENICE - Holy Week in the Catholic Church was met with protests Tuesday in Venice in an effort to let women become priests.
A group named "Call To Action" along with others held signs in a peaceful protest outside Epiphany Cathedral this morning. They greeted churchgoers and more than 200 priests from across the diocese who were celebrating Mass.
Protesters are upset over the news a priest will be removed from the priesthood, because of his support for women becoming priests.
That’s something protestors say will one day be accepted. “I think that female Roman Catholic priests are leading the way to a new renewed catholic church. The Vatican is kicking and screaming right now about us, but one day they too will recognize us as faithful witnesses to the gospel," says Bridget Mary Meehan.
Representatives with the Diocese of Venice did not want to be interviewed today, but they did release a statement:
"This attempt to use a celebration focused on Christ and his servants as an opportunity to increase publicity is shameful. Holy Week must be taken seriously as a celebration of Christ's eternal and selfless sacrifice, which purchased for us hope of salvation. Not to divert the attention to a spectacle," says Diocese of Venice.
