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Briefly noted

Wearing white vestments and later donning colored silk stoles, 12 women were ordained July 31 as deacons and priests aboard a riverboat in Pittsburgh by a group claiming that such rites are valid Roman Catholic ordinations. After the ritual, the eight who had been proclaimed priests by the group Roman Catholic Womenpriests danced and sang “We Are Chosen,” holding hands with their female bishops. More than 350 guests cheered and applauded. The Diocese of Pittsburgh declared that none of the ordinations is legitimate and that those involved have excommunicated themselves.