Newnan Woman Defies Catholic Ban on Female Priests: A Talk with Diane Dougherty
On October 20th, Diane Dougherty of Newnan, a former Catholic nun, went through the Catholic ceremony of ordination to the priesthood. Of course, her ordination was not recognized by the Church, which has a ban on female priests. A statement from Atlanta Archbishop Wilton Gregory said any woman who claims ordination has excommunicated herself from the Church. But Dougherty insists she remains a Catholic, and says she will start her ministry in the homes of those who are attracted to it. Her ordination was supervised by a group called the Association of Roman Catholic Women Priests. Dougherty spoke with WABE’s Denis O’Hayer.