Join us in Building a Civilization of Love

Our goal is to continue a conversation with our Bishops on paid family leave in the Catholic Church. By supporting our investigative reporting, joining us in prayer, and spreading the word, we can work together to build a civilization of love.

Our 2022 petition collected signatures from all 50 states.

What does this tell us?

Paid Leave is a real pain point for parents in the church.

Many parents lack adequate paid leave and would like to see change.

Dioceses and Catholic companies listened.

Changes we've seen since the petition / report

Archdiocese of Denver became the fifth U.S. Diocese on record to offer a 12-week, fully paid maternity leave in April 2022. Additionally they now offer 6 week fully paid paternity leave.

The Diocese of St. Augustine announced a two-week leave for adoptive and biological parents in April 2022.

Diocese of Pensacola-Tallahassee announced a new paid parental leave policy for all diocesan employees in May 2022.

Catholic publisher Ascension Press announced a new 12-week paid maternity leave policy in July 2023.

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Much remains to be done to prevent discrimination against those who have chosen to be wives and mothers…This is a matter of justice but also of necessity…It will force systems to be redesigned in a way which favors the pro-cesses of humanization which mark the "civilization of love."

Pope St. John Paul II
Letter to Women, 1995

As of our initial March 2022 report 

only

4 of 176

Only 4 of 176 Dioceses in the United States offer twelve weeks of fully paid maternity leave
only

31 of 176

Only 4 of 176 Dioceses in the United States offer twelve weeks of fully paid maternity leave
roughly

1 in 4

Only 4 of 176 Dioceses in the United States offer twelve weeks of fully paid maternity leave

Go behind the scenes with our podcast mini-series

Hear more insights about the research, the issue that inspired the petition, and join the conversation about how to better support women working for the Church.

Paid Leave Coverage

Catholic Dioceses–Slowly–Update Parental Leave Policies
News
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Paid Leave

Catholic Dioceses–Slowly–Update Parental Leave Policies

Renée Roden
Ascension Press Announces New 12-Week Paid Maternity Leave
News
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Paid Leave

Ascension Press Announces New 12-Week Paid Maternity Leave

Renée Roden
Why Short-Term Disability for Maternity Leave Doesn't Meet Mothers' Needs
News
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Paid Leave

Why Short-Term Disability for Maternity Leave Doesn't Meet Mothers' Needs

Renée Roden
Five Reasons Why Catholic Organizations Should Provide Paid Paternity Leave
News
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Paid Leave

Five Reasons Why Catholic Organizations Should Provide Paid Paternity Leave

Kelly Sankowski
Diocese of Pensacola-Tallahassee Announces New Paid Parental Leave Policy
News
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Paid Leave

Diocese of Pensacola-Tallahassee Announces New Paid Parental Leave Policy

Renée Roden
Two Catholic Dioceses Announce Paid Parental Leave Plans in April
News
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Paid Leave

Two Catholic Dioceses Announce Paid Parental Leave Plans in April

Renée Roden
Almost 75% of Catholic School Teachers are Women, and Many of Them Lack Paid Maternity Leave
News
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Paid Leave

Almost 75% of Catholic School Teachers are Women, and Many of Them Lack Paid Maternity Leave

Renée Roden
Why Women Need Paid Leave for Pregnancy Loss
News
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Paid Leave

Why Women Need Paid Leave for Pregnancy Loss

Kelly Sankowski

We believe the Church cares about women; we believe the Church cares about families. We don’t have all the answers, but we can’t wait any longer to get the conversation started. FemCatholic is building the platform for women and for the Church to enter into dialogue that will lead to meaningful change."

Samantha Povlock
Founder, FemCatholic
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