Donna Quinn
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Donna Quinn was an American Catholic nun and a lifelong feminist activist who was known for her involvement with the National Coalition of American Nuns and association with Women-Church Convergence (W-CC).[1]
In 1984 Donna Quinn was one of the Catholic nuns who signed on to the Catholic Statement on Pluralism and Abortion.[2] Maureen Fielder, Barbara Ferraro and Patricia Hussey also signed this statement.[3] The backlash against the nuns for signing this statement was swift and they received significant pressure from the Vatican.[3] In a December 1984 statement, the group pushed back against the leadership of the Catholic church saying, "We believe that this Vatican action is a cause for scandal to Catholics everywhere. It seeks to stifle freedom of speech and public discussion in the Roman Catholic Church."[4] That year Quinn appeared on The Phil Donahue Show.[5] Long after she signed the 1984 statement, Quinn continued to advocate for women's right to abortion. As late as 2009 she served as a clinic escort, helping women access their legal right to abortion care.[6]
Social justice work
In 1974 Donna Quinn was one of the founders of Chicago Catholic Women, an advocacy group for women's rights within the Catholic Church.[7] She also supported women's rights to contraception and called for the pope to support a female archbishop.[8] Quinn was credited in Elle Magazine as an inspiration for young Catholic women.[9] She also belonged to a club with feminist theologian Mary Hunt called "The best and the brightest of the bad girls."[10]
Women's ordination movement
Quinn was one of the most visible Catholic sisters who supported women's ordination in the Catholic Church.[11] She often spoke out against patriarchy in the church and was unafraid to protest against the Vatican directly.[12] She wrote a book about her involvement with this movement titled, "Chicago Catholic Women: Its Role in Founding the Catholic Women's Movement."[13]
AIDS activism
Advocacy for LGBTQ+ issues
Quinn was very public in her support for LGBTQ+ rights.[1] She was quoted as saying, "I want a church that is moral, that is just, that is all-inclusive. I want to say that this is my church."[15] According to theologian Mary Hunt, Quinn spoke out in support of the LGBTQ+ community at a time where few Catholics were willing to do so.[16]