Catholic Women Deacons—Why Not?

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Thank you for posting the link to the ITC report. I was just going to go look for it because of its penultimate paragraph:
In the light of these elements which have been set out in the present historico-theological research document, it pertains to the ministry of discernment which the Lord established in his Church to pronounce authoritatively on this question. From the Diakonia of Christ to the Diakonia of the Apostles
If the Church had already pronounced authoritatively on the ordination of women as deacons, there would be no need to discern. Ordinatio Sacerdotalis pronounced authoritatively on priestly ordination, but ordination to the diaconate was not included in that, at least in the opinion of the International Theological Commission.
 
I don’t think I’ve ever come across a male lay pastoral assistant nor a male director of religious education. I’m sure they exist, but I’ve never met nor heard of one.
 
With regard to Holy vs micro orders, I would not have a problem either way so long as the scope of Ministry is defined and in accord with scripture and is working under authority.
 
My first thought was that every priest has an opinion. Some have blogs. The latter does little to elevate the former.

The second, is that this article is premature. The issue is being explored, and no report has been released.

Third, I personally discount the slippery slope argument in this case, as the Church has spoken definitively on women priesthood. What Anglicans do is not relevant. They lack the same sense of authority and dogma that the Catholic Church does, which makes them changeable in this regard, whereas the Catholic Church is not.
 
Yes, the Catholic church would have to make a decision on this for it to proceed, but it could take two paths:
  • Holy Orders, note that per Omnium in mentem (2009) Can. 1009 § 3 “Those who are constituted in the order of the episcopate or the presbyterate receive the mission and capacity to act in the person of Christ the Head, whereas deacons are empowered to serve the People of God in the ministries of the liturgy, the word and charity”.
  • Minor Orders
https://w2.vatican.va/content/bened...en-xvi_apl_20091026_codex-iuris-canonici.html
 
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If you say so…again, the Church has historically had female deacons. That is asetyled fact.
No, it is not.

The church has had deaconesses, not female deacons. These are not the same thing.

This thread is now running in circles, and is ready for closure.
 
The church has had deaconesses, not female deacons. These are not the same thing.
Yes they are, seeing as the word deaconess is the feminine declension of the word deacon.
This thread is now running in circles, and is ready for closure.
So close it, I mentioned all I needed to say yesterday. You were the one bringing up an absurd objection that didn’t add any substantial weight to the conversation and was factually incorrect.
 
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First, I would like to see a study done for when the female deacons/deaconesses were first called sisters and when they became a part of what today is called “religious life”.

Second, I would like more focus on sisters and their role in the Catholic Church yesterday, today and in the future.
 
I don’t think you can point to a direct evolution (with the caveat that I believe some nuns/sisters of old were also ordained deaconesses). Nuns evolved from the ancient order of consecrated virgins (which still exists, or has been reinstated, as a unique vocation), and our modern apostolic sisters evolved from monastic nuns. I think it would be fair to say that sisters fulfill many of the functions that deaconesses did and could carry out.
 
If the Church establishes an order of female deacons, wouldn’t they end up doing the sorts of things that women in the Church are already doing? So what is the point? Just to have a different title?
 
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