Vatican says ‘no’ to women as Catholic deacons
A high-level Vatican commission voted against allowing Catholic women to serve as deacons, continuing the global Church’s practice of all-male clergy, according to a report given to Pope Leo.
The commission, by a 7-1 vote, said historical research and theological studies currently “rule out the possibility” of allowing women to serve as deacons, but recommended further investigation of the issue.
Debates about the possibility of ordained female deacons who could assist in Church services but be unable to celebrate Mass have rocked the 1.4 billion-member Church over the past decade.
Catholic deacons may baptize people, witness marriages, and preside over funerals, among other duties. In some parts of the world, they may lead congregations in the absence of a priest, but a priest must still celebrate Mass.
Considered for centuries as merely a stepping stone on the path to the priesthood, this post was reimagined as a permanent post for married Catholic men following a series of reforms by the Church in the 1960s.
Some women said they believed God wanted them to take on this task, which is understood by the Church as a service role.
The panel, chaired by a cardinal and a priest from the Vatican’s top doctrinal office, included male and female church scholars. The report, released Thursday, said their assessment of female deacons was strong, but “as of today, a definitive decision is not permitted.”
The late Pope Francis opened the speech at the request in 2016 of the Rome-based umbrella group representing the world’s Catholic sisters and nuns.
Francis established two commissions to study the issue, which were discussed in secrecy. Thursday’s report is the first time the results of the discussions have been made public.
The new report comes in a letter to Pope Leo from Italian Cardinal Giuseppe Petrocchi, who chaired the second commission created by Francis. The letter is dated September 18 but was published by the Vatican on Thursday.
Leo, who was little known on the world stage before his election in May, is not known to have commented on the issue of female deacons.
