Women seeking to be Catholic priests rally outside Holy Thursday Mass

Women who want to be Catholic priests again protested outside Holy Thursday Mass at Philadelphia’s Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul.  

It’s the 35th year women have rallied outside the massive cathedral to call attention to their quest with a prayer service on Holy Thursday, the day priests recommit to their vocation.

Judy Heffernan has felt a call to the priesthood since she was 6 years old.

“We just want to be a presence so they know that we are genuine, we feel that we are called, we ask to have our call tested,” she said. “We know that women’s presence in the church as ordained ministers and as leaders would be very helpful.”

Eileen DiFranco was ordained by a group of rogue bishops and then excommunicated.

DiFranco, who plans to reach out to Pope Francis when he’s in Philadelphia for the World Meeting of Families in September, isn’t optimistic.

“The handlers will keep him away from any message we have to offer,” she predicted.