Boston, Mass., May 3, 2004 / 22:00 pm
Archbishop Sean O'Malley apologized for upsetting women with his decision not to wash the feet of women on Holy Thursday and for his inclusion of feminism in a list of societal ills in a homily during Holy Week. The bishop’s statement appeared in his weekly column in the archdiocesan newspaper, The Pilot.
Several archdiocesan priests had reported that women in their parishes were offended by the feminism remark and the foot-washing ceremony.
The bishop drew criticism for listing “feminism” among negative forces in society during a homily April 6, during the Chrism Mass. However, he clarified in his column that there are expressions of feminism - such as demanding equal pay for equal work - that he supports.
“If someone were to ask me about feminism, I would say that there is feminism, which is a Christian imperative and invokes promoting the rights and prerogatives of women,” the bishop wrote.