Will women become deacons? Pope Francis sets up commission

Pope Francis has established a commission to study the question of whether women could possibly serve as "deacons" in the Catholic Church. The media should tread carefully on this topic, as it is easy to misinform.

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LOS ANGELES, CA (California Network) - Pope Francis has set up a special commission to study the question of female "deacons" to serve the Catholic Church.
 
Last May, Pope Francis mentioned he would possibly establish such a commission.
 
The commission is composed of seven men and six women. They will focus on the historical role of service offered by women disciples of Jesus, particularly in the early Church. The roles served by women at a time when the Apostles were still alive, and in the first few centuries of the Church, may help inform the commission in its research. This matter has been studied thoroughly in the past.
 
It appears that women played a special role of service in the early church similar to that of the contemporary deacon in only some respects, by preparing women for Baptism and entry into the church. Because the word "deacon" is derived from the Greek word for servant, they were referred to as "deaconesses" in some early sources. What was clear in past studies was they were not ordained as clergy. Rather, they were set aside for service much like what is currently done for extraordinary ministers of the Eucharist or lectors today.

As the Catechism of the Catholic Church explains,  "At a lower level of the hierarchy are to be found deacons, who receive the imposition of hands 'not unto the priesthood, but unto the ministry."' At an ordination to the diaconate only the bishop lays hands on the candidate, thus signifying the deacon's special attachment to the bishop in the tasks of his "diakonia."

"Deacons share in Christ's mission and grace in a special way. The sacrament of Holy Orders marks them with an imprint ("character") which cannot be removed and which configures them to Christ, who made himself the "deacon" or servant of all. Among other tasks, it is the task of deacons to assist the bishop and priests in the celebration of the divine mysteries, above all the Eucharist, in the distribution of Holy Communion, in assisting at and blessing marriages, in the proclamation of the Gospel and preaching, in presiding over funerals, and in dedicating themselves to the various ministries of charity." (Catholic Catechism, Paragraphs 1569 and 1570)

Deacons are ordained to a ministry in the Church and for the Church, not to the priesthood. They are often called to works of service and authentic social justice outreach. They are attached to the Bishop in a particular and special way as clergy. By virtue of their ordination they are authorized to proclaim the Gospel at Mass and preach, teach, baptize, witness weddings, bring viaticum to the sick and dying and preside at funeral services. They can also preside at Holy Hours and the Daily Liturgy of the Hours when celebrated in public assemblies. Though they are ordained members of the clergy, Deacons are not priests. They cannot absolve sins in the Sacrament of Confession, administer the sacrament of the anointing of the sick or confirmation, or celebrate the Holy Mass.
 
It must be understood that the establishment of the commission does not mean that women will be ordained as deacons in the Catholic Church. The commission may find against the idea. Or, the commission could recommend the idea, and offer the proposal to the Church leadership at a future point in time. However, such a major change would require the input of the entire leadership of the Catholic Church.
 
None of this should be construed to suggest, in any way, that women will be considered for ordination to the priesthood of the Catholic Church. That unchangeable matter was recently reaffirmed with crystal clarity in an apostolic letter entitled "On Reserving Priestly Ordination to Men Alone." St John Paul, then serving as Pope, wrote, "Although the teaching that priestly ordination is to be reserved to men alone has been preserved by the constant and universal Tradition of the Church and firmly taught by the Magisterium in its more recent documents, at the present time in some places it is nonetheless considered still open to debate, or the Church's judgment that women are not to be admitted to ordination is considered to have a merely disciplinary force.
 
"Wherefore, in order that all doubt may be removed regarding a matter of great importance, a matter which pertains to the Church's divine constitution itself, in virtue of my ministry of confirming the brethren (cf. Lk 22:32) I declare that the Church has no authority whatsoever to confer priestly ordination on women and that this judgment is to be definitively held by all the Church's faithful."
 
The Catholic Church has long taught the truth that there is a difference between women and men. This difference is intended by God and is to be respected. In the Church and in society. Both men and women have distinct, yet holy roles to offer in service to the Church. Both are worthy of full respect. Just because the roles are different should not be taken to assume that some are better than others .Women serve in significant roles in the Catholic Church. Ordination is not a job, it is a role of service, instituted by Jesus Christ, for His Body, the Church.

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