“The dicastery judges that there is still no room for a positive decision by the Magisterium regarding the access of women to the diaconate, understood as a degree of the Sacrament of Holy Orders.”
On the first day of the final session of the Synod of Bishops on Synodality, a study group responsible for evaluating the female diaconate has said that, while still exploring other forms of women’s’ involvement in the Church, they will not become deacons.
Cardinal Victor Manuel Fernández, prefect of the Vatican’s Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith, made the announcement during the synod’s afternoon session Oct. 2, the first official working day of the Oct. 2-27 synod.
On the women’s diaconate, he said, “We would like to share from the outset that, based on the analysis conducted so far – which also takes into account the work done by the two Commissions established by Pope Francis on the female diaconate – the dicastery judges that there is still no room for a positive decision by the Magisterium regarding the access of women to the diaconate, understood as a degree of the Sacrament of Holy Orders.”
“The Holy Father himself recently confirmed this consideration publicly. In any event, the Dicastery judges that the opportunity to continue the work of in-depth study remains open,” he said.
Pope Francis has previously established two different commissions to study the issue of the women’s diaconate, with the first being established in 2016. Both commissions presented their findings, which were ultimately inconclusive, to the pope.
The topic of the women’s diaconate was among the most hotly debated during last year’s synod gathering, which touched on other sensitive issues such as priestly celibacy, women’s priestly ordination, and a broader inclusion of the LGBTQ+ community.
However, Pope Francis in May took these questions off of the synod discussion table, instead assigning them to study groups he formed to continue reflection on various points that emerged during the synod discussion.
… Study of the women’s diaconate was entrusted to the DDF as part of the working ground on “Some theological and canonical matters regarding specific ministerial forms.”
Fernández said the group has decided to proceed with drafting a document on their study topic, and that the “most interesting” parts of the findings of the two commissions for the women’s diaconate will be included.
In order to properly develop the place of women in the Church and in decision-making processes as well as in leadership positions, he said the document would dwell on a series of different subjects.
These subjects, Fernández said, include the nature of sacramental power, the relationship between this sacramental power as deriving from the Eucharist, and other ecclesial ministries “needed for the care and growth of God’s Holy People with a view to mission.”
They will also include the origin of ministries, the charismatic nature of the Church, an exploration of the various ecclesial functions and ministries that do not require the Sacrament of Holy Orders, Holy Orders as service, and problems arising “from an erroneous conception of ecclesial authority.”
