Are We Talking About The Same Thing? An Analysis of “Catholic Feminism”

This paper examines “Catholic feminism” as a term and analyzes the meaning(s) of these words as various Catholic women theologians and leaders have used them throughout the last three decades (~1990 to ~2025). Through engaging Catholic feminist theologians such as Rosemary Radford Ruether, Elizabeth A. Johnson, and Ivone Gebara, this paper reveals how progressive Catholic women are defining Catholic feminism. Through engaging contemporary Catholic women leaders such as Abigail Favale and Josephine Garrett, this work also analyzes how conservative Catholic women are considering Catholic feminism. Bringing the progressive and conservative Catholic women into conversation with one another, this essay uncovers what each approach has in common with one another, while revealing key differences that may prove irreconcilable. This paper establishes the slippery nature of the term “Catholic feminism,” suggests the need to reconsider the use of the term, and proposes new language to use in scholarly conversation.