oversee religious work worldwide said the comparison was wrong the ordination of women is a serious crime. >> the catholic church has traditionally not arrived at a point where it believes that it is the will of god. now, i think i have to accept that. >> the first women bishops to be ordained in the united states! >> reporter: but even the threat of excommunication isn't stopping catholic women from what they consider the peefthood. there are now five bishops, 47 priests, ten deacons, and 16 candidates in formation in the united states, all of them illegitimate in the eyes of the catholic church. >> what many people say to us, why don't you go somewhere elsewhere you're accepted. >> reporter: i was going to ask you that. why stick with catholicism when it isn't supportive of you?