Read an Atlanta Journal-Constitution story from April 2, 2004 about Archbishop John F. Donoghue order of priests from that archdiocese to not wash women’s feet.

Read a March 27, 2013, National Catholic Register post on answering the questions about Holy Thursday.

Read an April 10, 2004, Boston Globe story describing how Roman Catholic Archbishop Sean P. O’Malley declined to wash the feet of women on Holy Thursday, saying that Jesus had only male disciples.

Read a March 28, 2013, article on the Church of England’s modern twist of foot-washing for Maundy Thursday.

Learn about the history and activities for Maundry Thursday in this Catholic Online article.

Read a March 30, 2013 Huffington Post article about how Pope Francis washed the feet of two female inmates at a local juvenile detention center.

Read an article on the history of foot-washing (and the connection between this ceremony and baptism) from the Catholic Encyclopedia.

Erik P. Goldschmidt is director of the Church in the 21st Century Initiative at Boston College. Its research includes the state of Catholic ministry in America.

Aaron Gross is an associate professor of theology and religious studies at the University of San Diego and author of The Question of the Animal and Religion: Theoretical Stakes, Practical Implications (2014). He can discuss Jewish values with regard to animals and the Torah’s proscription, called tzaar baalei hayim, against inflicting pain on any creature. […]