Pope Francis has created a commission to study the possibility of allowing women to serve as deacons in the Catholic church, following up on a promise made last May in what could be an historic move towards ending the global institution’s practice of an all-male clergy.
“The pontiff has appointed an equal number of male and female experts as members of the commission, which will be led by Archbishop Luis Francisco Ladaria, a Jesuit who serves as the second-in-command of the Vatican’s doctrinal congregation.
“The Vatican said in a release announcing the commission Tuesday (Aug. 2) that the pope had decided to create the group ‘after intense prayer and mature reflection’ and wanted it particularly to study the history of the female diaconate ‘in the earliest times of the church.’
“The formal name given to the group is ‘Study Commission on the Women’s Diaconate.’ The commission’s members include experts in patristic theology, ecclesiology, and spirituality.”
By Joshua J. McElwee, National Catholic Reporter — Click here to read the rest of this story.
Francis institutes commission to study female deacons, appointing gender-balanced membership / National Catholic Reporter
Voice of the Faithful
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#1 by Kaylyn Taylor on February 6, 2017 - 7:23 AM
It is time for Baptised Adult Catholics to discern their gifts and to offer them at the service of God’s Kingdom. God’s gifts for Mission are not restricted by your gender!
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#2 by Sally on August 2, 2016 - 2:28 PM
Thank God…… We are back to the mind and heart of Jesus.
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