Transcript from Rita Cassella Jones Lecture at Fordham of September 17, 2024. As you know, I belonged to the initial Pontifical Commission for the Study of the Diaconate of Women. We were named in August 2016 and first met in November of that year. I traveled to Rome several days in advance of the scheduled Read more
The Vatican group studying the question of women’s ministry announced that consultations, including the potential for female ordination to the diaconate, will be expanded to include more voices. The move comes amid growing debate within the Synod on Synodality. Members are pushing for further discussion and clarity on the controversial issue. At the heart of Read more
What is it with the Roman Catholic Church and women? It’s not as if they just arrived on the scene and need to be integrated into the life of the Church. In fact, they are the life of the Church. It is the women who predominantly do the heavy lifting of Catholic life; they educate, Read more
In my last blog, I reported on the enthusiasm that filled me and many other synod participants during the retreat days. The enthusiasm gave way to a certain disillusionment after two more days. That was to be expected. But the fact that it would happen so quickly and that this “sobering up process” even began Read more
The Sunday after her confirmation, when young people raised Catholic are supposed to embrace their faith for themselves, Ellie Hidalgo’s niece begged her parents to not make her go to church. “She said, ‘I just don’t think this Church is set up for somebody like me,’” Hidalgo recalled in a recent interview. “‘I don’t think Read more
Birgit Weiler, a theologian and nun based in Peru, has called for the Catholic Church to address what she describes as “toxic masculinity” within its structures. Weiler, a theological advisor to the Latin American bishops’ council CELAM, highlighted that Jesus challenged the patriarchal norms of his time, treating women as equals. During an online lecture, Read more
Pope Francis has made perfectly clear that he is opposed to ordaining women as deacons. Although I disagree with him, I accept that we are not going to see women deacons during his pontificate. But if Francis or anyone else opposes ordaining women deacons, there is a simple solution: stop ordaining anyone as deacons, and Read more
This week the Church celebrates the feast of Mary Magdalene, at a time when Catholicism finds itself in a definitive moment concerning the roles of women. Women’s leadership in the Church In May, the first-ever deaconess was ordained in the Eastern Orthodox Church. Less than two weeks ago, the Vatican held a press conference announcing Read more
Amazon bishops did their best to offer the Pope fresh ideas at the 2019 Amazon Synod – just as he asked for, Bishop Erwin Kräutler says. Pope Francis provokes “an insane hope” he says. Hope of reform. Hope that may remain unfulfilled. “I am one of those people who – as Pope Francis says – Read more
Those promoting women deacons are still hoping their dream for ordained women will come true. Their vision continues despite Pope Francis saying a very public ‘No’ to the idea as recently as last week’s CBS News interview. No way During the CBS interview, Francis said he is not open to the possibility of ordaining women Read more