In Case you haven't heard

picture of Mother Victoria Rue, a Catholic priest. I attended a mass celebrated by her last Gay Pride at Dignity NY.
One of the reason's I'm reluctant to return to the Catholic Church is their treatment of woman. I addition to the pope's recent decision to remove women from positions on the altar ( like serving communion.) This far reaching decision was announced:

"VATICAN CITY -- The Vatican is slamming the door on attempts by women to become priests in the Roman Catholic Church.
It has strongly reiterated in a decree that anyone involved in ordination ceremonies is automatically excommunicated.
A top Vatican official said in a statement Friday that the church acted following what it called "so-called ordinations" in various parts of the world.
Monsignor Angelo Amato of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith says the Vatican also wants to provide bishops with a clear response on the issue.
The church has always banned the ordination of women, stating that the priesthood is reserved for males. The new decree is explicit in its reference to women."

The Holy Roman Catholic Church seems to be taking only steps back and no steps forward these days.