April 7, 2004
Source: The New York Times
http://www.nytimes.com/2004/04/07/national/07FEET.html
On April 7, 2004 The New York Times reported, "Women will not be allowed to participate in Maundy Thursday foot-washing rituals at Roman Catholic churches here. In a March 19 letter to the archdiocese's priests, Archbishop John Donoghue said each parish should choose just 12 men for the ritual, which represents Jesus washing his disciples' feet at the Last Supper. Archbishop Donoghue, his staff and the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops declined to comment on the issue on Tuesday."