Can women be ordained as deacons?

[scottcatey]

It is my understanding that women cannot be priests because the priest acts in the person of Jesus Christ during the Mass and Jesus was a man. My question is can a women be ordained a deacon since deacons can not lead a Mass? If not, why.

 

[Michelle_Arnold]

Women cannot be ordained deacons because deacons receive the sacrament of holy orders, a sacrament women cannot validly receive. Deacons receive this sacrament in a lesser degree than priests or bishops, but they do receive it and therefore potential candidates must be capable of receiving it. As a side note, deacons do not preside at Mass; but they do read the Gospel and are allowed to preach at Mass, functions that are considered to be apostolic, in a certain sense. Since deacons share, in some manner, in the apostolic ministry, it is fitting that they be men as were the apostles Jesus chose.

Recommended reading:

Have there been female deacons?
Why were women called deaconesses?