It's a move that's causing controversy for many in the Catholic community.An independent parish ordained Elizabeth English during a ceremony on Saturday night.
Elizabeth English is the only woman to be ordained a Catholic priest in the Sacramento area.
"It is very much a lifelong calling from God," says Elizabeth. "I didn't think this would ever happen."
It did happen, but her title is not recognized by the Pope. She leads an independent Catholic church, a denomination not under the Vatican's authority. Elizabeth is a mother and has a female partner, factors that don't follow the rules and regulations the Roman Catholic Church demands.
"This was the parish that fit my needs," says Elizabeth.
Her role as a priest does not come without controversy.
"I don't know that we're ready for a female priest," says Bernadette Slaber, a Roman Catholic, "let alone a lesbian priest."
"An incremental change in the church, that's one thing," says Jeff Sucec, also a Roman Catholic, "but this takes it farther than what I think the church will find palatable."
Elizabeth English got her religious foundation from the Roman Catholic Church, but left her roots for the independent church, which has five parishes on the west coast.
"There are people belong in the Roman Catholic Church, and that's a good place for them," says Elizabeth.
"This is a good place for me."
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