Mary John Mananzan


Sister Mary John Mananzan is a Missionary Benedictine nun, feminist, activist, and author. She helped develop an Asian feminist theology of liberation. She currently ministers as superior of the Manila community and member of the Priory Council.
On March 8, 2011, she was cited as one of the 100 Most Inspiring Persons in the World, at the centennial of International Women's Day.
On June 19, 2020, Sr. Mananzan has been alleged as having “close ties to a terrorist group” by Presidential Communications Operations Office Undersecretary Lorraine Badoy.

Background

She is co-convenor of the Movement Against Tyranny.
She has served as president of Saint Scholastica’s College for six years and dean for 18 years, prioress of the Missionary Benedictine Sisters in the Manila Priory, and national chairperson of the Association of Major Religious Superiors of the Philippines.
She also co-founded GABRIELA, federation of women's organizations and served as its national chairperson for 18 years.

Education

Mananzan has a doctorate degree in Philosophy major in Linguistic Philosophy at the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome, Italy. She also has a degree in Missiology at the Wilhelmsuniversitaet in Munster, Germany.
Mananzan studied at St. Scholastica’s College in Manila from high school through college, graduating with an AB-BSE degree, major in history.

Controversial views

Mananzan was known for being feminist, and she was one of the Catholics who supported the RH Bill, it guarantees access to methods on contraception, fertility control, sexual education, and maternal care. The bill was signed by President Benigno Aquino III.
She was also known for her support for SOGIE Equality Bill, known as Equality Bill or Anti-Discrimination Bill.
Both bills were opposed by the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines.

Awards and recognition