Book Description

Endorsements: "Thirty years after the close of Vatican II, we have this fresh revelation of the 'strange Roman experience' of the twenty-three women from fourteen different countries invited to be auditors at the previously all male Council. You will not want to stop before the end." -- Marie Augusta Neal, SND de Namur, Professor of Sociology, Emerita, Emmanuel College, Boston "An important and necessary history that will find great interest for a long time." --Bernard Haring, Moral Theologian "Facts buried in archives come alive in the living voices of these women who now share the 'dangerous memory' of their presence at Vatican II. Carmel McEnroy tells this story with keen insight into women's oppression in the Church, an eye for the humorous detail, and great narrative flair. Thank goodness she rescued this piece of history before it disappeared over the horizon like so much else." --Elizabeth A. Johnson, CSJ, Professor of Theology, Fordham University "This interesting historical investigation of the exclusion and participation of women at the Vatican Council reveals the dynamics of communication within the Church, including its systematic distortions and the forgiving fidelity of dedicated women. I am glad that this book has been written." --Gregory Baum, Professor of Theology, McGill University Author Biography: Carmel McEnroy, a Sister of Mercy and distinguished professor of theology, was fired in 1995 from St. Meinard Seminary for her public dissent from church teaching on women's ordination. Her name had appeared with hundreds of others in an advertisement questioning the issue in the National Catholic Reporter.