Catholic Activist Urges Vatican to Follow Church of England's Lead on Women's Ordination
A prominent Catholic woman from the United States has publicly called on the Vatican to "pay attention" to the historic enthronement of Dame Sarah Mullally as the first female Archbishop of Canterbury, urging the Roman Catholic Church to follow the Church of England's example and ordain women.
Historic Moment Sparks Hope for Change
Jane Varner Malhotra, a 57-year-old advocate from Washington DC and member of the Women's Ordination Conference, traveled to Canterbury Cathedral in Kent to witness Wednesday's ceremony. She held a sign reading "Catholics, let's do this" outside the cathedral, symbolizing her five-decade campaign for women's ordination within Catholicism.
Dame Sarah's appointment represents a groundbreaking milestone in the Church of England's 1,400-year history, starkly contrasting with Catholic doctrine that still prohibits women from entering the priesthood. Ms Varner Malhotra expressed both celebration and frustration at the disparity.
Personal Journey and Public Advocacy
"I feel like you all are lucky, and I hope the Catholics can get ourselves together and get this going quickly," Ms Varner Malhotra stated. She described the atmosphere outside Canterbury Cathedral as "incredibly heart-warming," noting support from diverse religious communities—a contrast to what she's experienced outside the Vatican where many Catholics feel unable to voice similar support publicly.
Her advocacy began in childhood when she was denied the opportunity to serve as an altar server because of her gender. "Ever since then I've been helping expand the Catholic imagination for what women can do," she explained. "I'm here to celebrate this incredible, historic day for people around the world, whether or not you're Christian, whether or not you're Anglican or Catholic. It's just a great milestone for people to see women in these important roles."
Dame Sarah's Symbolic Pilgrimage
Ms Varner Malhotra praised Dame Sarah as a "natural leader," particularly noting her unconventional six-day pilgrimage from London to Canterbury that concluded on Sunday. "You could see that from her pilgrimage to get here," she observed. "Not many people take that kind of approach."
During Wednesday's formal enthronement service, Dame Sarah renewed her ministerial vows and commitments, taking an oath on the St John's Bible presented to the cathedral in 2023. She was ceremonially placed in the Diocesan cathedra—the Bishop's Chair dating from 1844—before being installed in the ancient Chair of St Augustine, used for archbishop installations since the early 13th century.
Broader Implications for Religious Leadership
This historic event highlights ongoing debates about gender equality within global religious institutions. While the Church of England has progressively opened leadership roles to women since first ordaining female priests in 1994, the Catholic Church maintains traditional restrictions despite growing internal and external pressure for reform.
Ms Varner Malhotra's presence at the ceremony symbolizes the transnational nature of this movement, demonstrating how developments in one denomination can inspire and challenge others. Her advocacy represents both personal conviction and broader calls for institutional change within one of the world's largest religious organizations.
