CHRISTCHURCH Bishop Barry Jones of Christchurch has stopped a group pressing for equality in the Church from holding an Advent liturgy in the Marian College chapel. The group, Catholics: Knowing Our Place, was formed in 1994 as Catholic Women: Knowing Our Place after Pope John Paul IIs apostolic letter Ordinatio Sacerdotalis, which affirmed that the Church does not have the power to ordain women as priests.

Changing its name to be more inclusive, the group had used the chapel for Advent prayers for the past 15 years.

But after being informed by the college of the bishops decision, the liturgy was shifted to an Anglican premises in Christchurch.

Bishop Jones told NZ Catholic he did not want to seem to give tacit approval to Catholics: Knowing Our Place using the chapel because of my understanding that the group does not accept the Church’s teaching that [it] does not have the power to ordain women to the priestly ministry.

I want Marian College to be a college whose Catholic identity and character is consistent and transparent a college, that is, which is in communion with the Pope, as successor of St Peter, the bishop said.

Catholics: Knowing Our Place spokeswoman Sheryn Gillard-Glass, in a message sent to NZ Catholic, called the decision arbitrary and based on untrue assumptions.

It stated that ordination was not something the group currently discussed or had a combined opinion on and the issue is not and never has been a central focus of the group.

A 2003 article in The Common Good spoke of then-group members vision of a time in the Church when women are listened to and given an equal place with men in its political and liturgical life. That means that women have an equal voice in policy-making and . . . are accepted into its ordained priesthood.

Bishop Jones has written to the group explaining his concerns and apologising for not contacting them directly.

But no one from the group has informed him that his understanding of its views about ordination is mistaken, he said.

He is waiting for fresh information that would invite him to reconsider his decision.

The group believes all liturgies should use inclusive language and include women, so as to reveal Christs love.

Catholics: Knowing Our Place functions as an auditing group of the institution as well as providing a home for those who want to pray and celebrate, but find the language and attitudes within their parishes unsatisfactory and unjust, the message said.

The group provides appropriate liturgies and gatherings for Catholics