1963

In 1963, Pope John XXIII, reflecting on the sign of the times, identified the emergence of women asserting their right to be treated with dignity and equality as one of the major thrusts of our times (Pacem in Terris, n.41)

1977

In 1977 the Catholic Commission for Justice and Peace published the Social Justice Sunday Statement, Towards a More Whole Church, addressing a range of gender issues in the Church. During the latter part of the twentieth century the Bishops received many suggestions from a broad range of people and groups that the issues concerning the role and status of women were a high priority social justice concern to the community.