Women Permanent Deacons

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TheMarriedKnight

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Is it biblical for women to get ordained to the diaconate? It’s left to some interpretation. I personally don’t think it’s biblical but I would like to hear the thoughts of others.
 
There are various threads of this in CAF, some very detailed. Check them out…
 
I don’t think it is either. But am interested. Also just my thoughts: if Jesus did not deem that his perfectly sinless mother should be a priest or clergy…no woman should be. Women play a different role in salvation history.
 
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In Biblical times it was inappropriate for men to enter certain areas where only women went. Baptisms were also frequently done in the nude. So there were women ministries to reach to these areas, and they were commonly called deaconesses. This did not involve the sacrament of Holy Orders.
 
I’m do it as im reading what people have to say on my thread. I thank you.
 
I think I heard of that, they did certain roles of the deacons, but they were never ordained. It opens up the question that even if they do become deacons in the present, should we give them all the same abilities a ordained deacon has?
 
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TheMarriedKnight said:
It opens up the question that even if they do become deacons in the present, should we give them all the same abilities a ordained deacon has?
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How could they have all the abilities of an ordained deacon without ordination? If such a thing is possible, why bother with ordination at all, or any of the Sacraments for that matter?
 
TheMarriedKnight said:
I think I heard of that, they did certain roles of the deacons, but they were never ordained. It opens up the question that even if they do become deacons in the present, should we give them all the same abilities a ordained deacon has?
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Well, a deaconess order isn’t really necessary. We (mostly?) don’t baptize in the nude anymore, or encounter the same needs. Women also participate in many other lay ministries, whether liturgical or evangelizing and ministering for others outside of Church. The role would just be redundant.
 
“I commend to you our sister Phoebe, a deacon of the church in Cenchreae. I ask you to receive her in the Lord in a way worthy of his people and to give her any help she may need from you, for she has been the benefactor of many people, including me.“

- Romans 16:1-2

There is Biblical basis for women being ‘deacons’ but the sense of the word is different. It is not in a liturgical sense but rather one of servitude to other women and younger children.

As such, it is very conceivable of a woman being a lector, altar server, or Eucharistic minister (as they already are). But whether they can proclaim the Gospel (since receiving the Gospel is part of holy orders) or give homilies or be involved in the liturgy is not Biblically based. Giving a personal reflection is more of a possibility as that is fine and common outside of a mass.

It is not to suggest that women are any less then men because they cannot become priests or deacons. Rather, men cannot become nuns or mothers. Both men and women have specific and unique roles that are aligned with Church theology.
 
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