Groups of priests in Australia, Austria and the United States have called for a new look at Roman Catholic teachings on the ordination of women.About 150 U.S. priests signed a letter supporting the Rev. Roy Bourgeois, a member of the Maryknoll order, The New York Times reported Saturday.
Bourgeois has refused a Vatican order to recant his participation in an ordination ceremony for a woman.
The Australian National Council of Priests has supported Bishop William Morris.
He was forced to resign as bishop of Toowoomba after he said he would ordain women and married men if the Vatican changed its position.
In Austria, more than 300 priests and deacons signed a "Call to Disobedience."
They supported female and married priests and giving communion to divorced Catholics and promised to pray for reform in the church at every Mass.
Pope John Paul II issued a 1994 statement that the church has "no authority whatsoever" to ordain women.
He argued that all of Jesus' apostles were men, something many scholars dispute.
Pope Benedict XVI in his statement on Morris said the church teaching on female ordination is "infallible."
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