What's happened
A Vatican commission has recommended against allowing women to serve as deacons, citing theological and historical research. The decision, announced today, leaves open the possibility of further study and new lay ministries for women. The move marks a setback for advocates seeking greater gender inclusion in the Church.
What's behind the headline?
The Vatican's decision reflects a cautious approach rooted in theological disagreement and historical interpretation. The report emphasizes that current research 'excludes the possibility' of women serving as deacons, but also notes the need for further study. This outcome underscores the Church's resistance to expanding female roles within its ordained hierarchy, aligning with longstanding doctrinal positions that reserve priesthood for men. The recommendation to develop new lay ministries suggests a strategic move to include women in Church service without challenging doctrinal boundaries. The decision may also be influenced by internal debates about gender roles and the Church's global image, especially in regions where gender equality is advancing. While the report dismisses the immediate possibility of women deacons, it leaves open the door for future discussions, potentially shaping the Church's stance on gender and ministry in the coming years.
What the papers say
The New York Times reports that the Vatican commission's recommendation 'excludes the possibility' of women deacons for now, citing theological and historical research. The Independent highlights that the commission's vote was 7-1 against women serving as deacons, though it called for further study. Both sources note that the Vatican's move is a setback for advocates, with some critics arguing the report selectively presents evidence and avoids a definitive stance. Reuters emphasizes the commission's strong assessment but notes the proposal for new lay ministries outside the ordained diaconate. These differing perspectives reveal ongoing internal debates within the Church about gender roles, with some scholars criticizing the process as limited and biased, while others see it as a prudent step given doctrinal complexities.
How we got here
Discussions about women serving as deacons in the Catholic Church have been ongoing since Pope Francis ordered studies in 2016. Historically, women served as deacons in early Christianity, but the modern Church has maintained a ban. The recent commissions, created to explore this issue, have concluded that current theological research does not support ordaining women as deacons, though the topic remains under consideration.
Go deeper
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Pope Francis is the head of the Catholic Church and sovereign of the Vatican City State. Francis is the first Jesuit pope, the first from the Americas, the first from the Southern Hemisphere, and the first pope from outside Europe since the Syrian Gregory
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Giuseppe Petrocchi is an Italian Catholic prelate who served as Archbishop of L'Aquila from 2013 to 2024. Pope Francis made him a cardinal on 28 June 2018.
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Phyllis Zagano is an American author and academic. She has written and spoken on the role of women in the Roman Catholic Church and is an advocate for the ordination of women as deacons.