Chicago Catholic Women

Catholic women's rights advocacy group. Chicago Catholic Women (CCW) was founded in 1974 and closed in 2000. It began when a group of women concerned with helping other women in the Archdiocese of Chicago met to provide input to the U.S. Bishops during the formation of a social justice policy during the 1975 National Conference on Catholic Bishops in St. Paul, Minnesota. After the conference, Chicago Catholic Women was formally incorporated by the state of Illinois on February 25, 1977. CCW's initial purpose was to call women of the Archdiocese of Chicago to full participation in the mission of the church. It consisted of laity and religious women as well as men. CCW developed networks with individuals and other groups to promote common objectives including the elimination of sexual discrimination in Church law and liturgical practices as well as the elimination of sexist language and imagery. Among the many issues Chicago Catholic Women advocated were employment, affirmative action, the Equal Rights Amendment, education, the women's Pastoral Education Fund Program, and a spiritual renewal program.