The Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh is forwarding information to Rome about a July 31 riverboat ceremony in which 12 women claimed to have been ordained as Roman Catholic priests and deacons. But the diocese is not asking for a declaration of excommunication against the women because church law says they excommunicated themselves.

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"The Holy See should certainly be aware when an event takes place in a diocese that is certainly contrary to the teaching of the church, particularly when it touches on the simulation of a sacrament," said Monsignor Lawrence DiNardo, vicar for canonical services.

The information would include the names of the 12 women who sought ordination, and the three female bishops of Roman Catholic Womenpriests who celebrated the rite, he said.

One of those ordained by Roman Catholic Womenpriests was Joan Houk, 66, of McCandless. She said before the ceremony that she would refrain from going forward to receive communion in her parish. She could not be reached yesterday.

It was reported yesterday that Archbishop Timothy Dolan of Milwaukee was sending information to Rome about a Wisconsin woman ordained by Roman Catholic Womenpriests, asking for a declaration of excommunication. Kathleen Hohl, a spokeswoman for the Milwaukee archdiocese, said their understanding was that excommunication in cases such as this was reserved to the Vatican's Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith.

Monsignor DiNardo said that both jurisdictions were "responding to this appropriately."

Pittsburgh's understanding is that the women excommunicated themselves. He said, however, if the church wanted to add a formal declaration of excommunication to that -- or make any other canonical ruling in the case -- that must come from Rome, not the local diocese.

"The law itself excommunicates people. People can [already] be excommunicated, but that excommunication can then be declared," he said.

He said that the Diocese of Pittsburgh was not asking for such a declaration, "at least not at this present moment."

"Our intent would be to give the information." he said.

"It is really up to the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith to act in the way that they deem appropriate."

For instance, since the women stated many times that they considered their ordinations valid -- though illegal under canon law -- the congregation might choose to declare the ordinations both illicit and invalid, he said.