THE VFA PIONEER HISTORIES PROJECT
Elizabeth J. Farians, Ph.D.
April 10, 1923 – October 21, 2013
“It’s all right if women come to church with a cake in their hands, but if they come with an idea in their heads, they’re not welcome.” – Dr. Elizabeth Farians, May 1970
Theologian, Feminist, Animal Rights Advocate and Social Justice Activist. Founder of National Organization For Women. Chaired the first NOW Task Force on Women and Religion. First woman to become a member of the Catholic Theological Society of America. Co-founder of “Catholics for the ERA” and “Catholics for Choice.” Founded Animals, People and the Earth (APE); Honorary Veteran Feminists of America board member.
Photo. NOW Founders and Presidents celebrate the 40th Anniversary of NOW, 2006. Left to right: Former President Patricia Ireland, Former President Karen DeCrow, President Kim Gandy, Founder Muriel Fox, Founder Elizabeth Farians, Founder Inez Cassiano and Former President Aileen Hernandez. [Photo courtesy of NOW]
More About Elizabeth:
- Elizabeth Farians: Catholic Feminist Pioneer, Feminist Studies in Religion, by Patricia Miller, July 2014
- The Four Wise Women, An Excerpt from Good Catholics, by Patricia Miller, September 12, 2014
- National Organization for Women’s Elizabeth Farians, Cincy Chic, July 2008
- Elizabeth Farians remarks, VFA honors Midwest Feminists, Chicago, IL, 2004
- Farians, Elizabeth. Papers of Elizabeth Farians, Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America
- Statement of Dr. Elizabeth Farians, Joint Committee of Organizations Concerned About the Status of Women in the Church, 1971
- Select newspaper clippings 1969-1974
- Honoring Our Founders & Pioneers, National Organization for Women
- Cited in Barbara Love’s book, Feminists Who Changed America 1963-1975, page 140