Cardinal Jean-Claude Hollerich of Luxembourg, a key organiser of the Synod of Bishops on Synodality, has called for sincere dialogue on women's roles in the Church.

Hollerich said that as a church "we have to commit to a very sincere dialogue because the situation is not the same in all the continents. In all of western Europe, women are asking to be admitted to ordained ministry".

Pope Francis established ten study groups to explore critical issues from the 2023 synod, including one on women deacons. While the Vatican recently disclosed the members of most groups, those studying women deacons remain unnamed.

The Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith oversees this group's work. However, no individual members have been identified, raising concerns about the process's transparency.

Transparency frustration

Casey Stanton, co-director of Discerning Deacons, criticised this secrecy, stating it undermines trust in the Church's commitment to synodality.

"The lack of transparency with this particular study group does not inspire trust or confidence in the institutional church's commitment to be synodal.

"Synodality requires us to risk being vulnerable, to engage theologically in light of pastoral realities and to hold difficult questions with openness" she told the National Catholic Reporter.

Frustration over the lack of transparency regarding how the doctrinal office is handling the topic of women deacons isn't new - it dates back over two decades.

In 2002, the International Theological Commission concluded a study of the diaconate that considered the question of women deacons. This was followed by two different commissions Francis established in 2016 and 2020. The work of the two commissions has never been made public.

British theologian Tina Beattie suggested that previous commissions might have found evidence supporting a female diaconate. However, the Vatican's leadership remains unconvinced.

"It's hard not to conclude that both reports included evidence in favour of a female diaconate, but that the magisterium's mind is made up so this is just a window-dressing exercise" she told NCR. "I think it shows arrogance and contempt for those of us who have a genuine interest in these theological issues and debates.

"It's hard not to conclude that these commissions are placebos" Beattie added.

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The Women of the Church conference was for Catholic women leaders.

It took place recently.

All was not bleak, as highlighted by Women of the Church keynote speaker, theology Professor Kristin Colberg (pictured), who discussed "Fruit and Seed: New Roles for Women in a Synodal Church".

"What's happening with women in the Church is not just the beginning of something new, but it's the realisation of something that's already happening," she told participants.

"Because we're living through it, we can fail to see how radical and exciting a time this is in the Church," she said.

Colberg is on the synod's theological commission. She also helped write the synod's continental document "Enlarge the Space of Your Tent".

After reading synodal reports from across the globe, she said it was clear that women's issues were not just a Western concern.

"The whole world is ready to move on the issue of women," she told conference attendees.

She thinks the synod will bring a "fundamental transformation of the Church."

Including women as synod voting members is a significant shift, she noted. It is bringing new means of discernment and decision-making.

"After such changes, there's no turning back," she said.

Women of the Church at the conference

On the last day of the conference, participants met in small groups for synodal listening sessions. In these, they reflected on the conference topics and on the Holy Spirit in their own lives.

One attendee said the event was an opportunity to discern where God is leading her.

"It fills my cup to be connected with women who are active in the Church and who are struggling like I am.

"Although we have far to go for greater equality and female leadership in the Church, there are visible signs of fruits from what's been done and seeds for the future that are being sown — all indicate we are indeed moving," she wrote.

"There is a transformation happening from within."

Source

• NCR