At the synod on the family, a Canadian archbishop has called for the ordination of women deacons and for married people to speak in homilies at Masses.
Archbishop Paul-Andre Durocher, a former president of the Canadian bishops’ conference, released the text of his synod speech on his blog.
He proposed three courses of action for the synod.
- “That this synod considers the possibility of granting to married men and women, well-trained and accompanied, permission to speak in homilies at Mass in order to show the link between the Word proclaimed and the lives of spouses and parents.”
- “That in order to recognise the equal capacity of women to assume decision-making positions in the Church, the synod recommends the appointment of women to positions they are able to occupy in the Roman Curia and in our diocesan curias.”
- “Finally, concerning the permanent diaconate, that this synod recommends the establishment of a process that could eventually open to women access to this order, which, as tradition says, is directed non ad sacerdotium, sed ad ministerium [“not to priesthood, but to ministry”].”
Archbishop Durocher also called on the synod to state that a proper interpretation of Scripture can never justify male domination over women.
“In particular, this synod should affirm that the passages where St Paul speaks of the woman’s submission to her husband do not justify male domination over women, much less violence towards her,” the archbishop said.
He cited World Health Organisation figures that state one third of women worldwide are victims of domestic violence.
The archbishop said the equal dignity of women and men in the Church must be clearly shown to the world.
He cited Benedict XVI’s 2006 address to Rome’s clergy asking whether it might be possible to give women more offices of ministerial responsibility.
Sources