Pope Francis calls for study on ‘reinstating’ female deacons

[Eugene]

Source: Washington Post

Pope Francis calls for study on ‘reinstating’ female deacons

By Julie Zauzmer, Anthony Faiola and Michelle Boorstein May 12 at 2:20 PM

Pope Francis on Thursday told an international conference of nuns that he wants to create a commission to study the possibility of “reinstating” female deacons, a dramatic statement highlighting the historic role of women in the church, but one which left unclear what tangible changes Francis is open to making.

In a news release, coming a half-day after news of the comments emerged on the Web, the Vatican press office said that the pope made the statement in response to questions about contemporary women’s leadership from nuns at a major Vatican conference.

“Up to the 5th century, the Diaconate flourished in the western Church, but in the following centuries it experienced a slow decline, surviving only as an intermediate stage for candidates preparing for priestly ordination. Following the Second Vatican Council, the Church restored the role of permanent deacon, which is open to single and married men. Many experts believe that women should also be able to serve in this role, since there is ample evidence of female deacons in the first centuries, including one named Phoebe who is cited by Saint Paul in his letter to the Romans,” the release from the Vatican press office said. Francis “said understanding about their role in the early Church remained unclear and agreed it would be useful to set up a commission to study the question.”

The pope’s comments immediately triggered debate about whether Francis was opening the door for radical change or instead turning back the clock by reviewing biblical history many feminists see as settled.

Reaction seemed to fortify Francis’s reputation on the topic of women: A pope who speaks of moving the needle on female leadership but often in the voice of a macho elder.

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Read more: https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/acts-of-faith/wp/2016/05/12/pope-francis-will-reportedly-study-the-possibility-of-female-deacons/

[libodem]

1. A Temple for The Goddess

Really ought to be in order with a Priestess heading the worship service.

Oh, well, a start is a start. Welcome the study toward equality. Thanks, for that fine rib, Adam. Thanks, to the man that hatched Adam, Fathers have given birth ever since. What, what?

[rug]

2. The case for female deacons is not hard to make.

[okasha]

3. This was also the first step

the Episcopal Church took toward women priests and ultimately bishops. The trail has been marked out already for Francis, and I believe he is strong enough not to be deflected.

[rug]

9. Once it happened, it was rapid.

It was 15 years from the 1974 ordination of the first women in the Episcopal Church to its 1989 ordination of the first woman bishop.

Once the first barrier is down, it becomes painfully obvious that the barriers are artificial.

[okasha]

11. There were (still are) a few diehards,

but once the congregations actually saw women they knew in vestments, administering some of the sacraments, the way was open. I hope it goes as rapidly for Roman Catholics. Francis has met with women bishops, and it's possible that has colored his thinking.

[Act_of_Reparation]

4. Oh boy. A "study"...

This church can't go five seconds without embarrassing itself.

[rug]

5. In that case, he should just cancel it.

[trotsky]

6. They shall think about the possibility of perhaps allowing women...

to become slightly greater 2nd class citizens.

How positively enlightened of them.

[rug]

7. Whatever will you do if the RCC ordains women priests?

[Act_of_Reparation]

8. Some people seem to think so.

The usual suspects, of course.

For the record, this is the gist of the issue:

PUBLIC: It's 2016. Can you start treating men and women like equals?

POPE: Are they equal? I'll look into it.

I'm unable to see the bullshit from the usual bullshitters, but experience tells me they are probably suggesting we should be congratulatory about this shit, as if the mere act of considering bringing the church into the 1970s is something worthy of praise.

Sorry, but being late to a meeting won't win you Employee of the Fucking Month.

[rug]

10. I take it, then. you don't want him to do it.

predictable bullshit from the, how did you put it, "usual bullshitters".

[mr blur]

12. And "Progressive Democrats" everywhere weep tears of gratitude

to this ridiculous little man.