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 deacons.

He clarified his stance saying "Women have always had, I would say, the function of deaconesses without being deacons, right?

"Women are of great service as women, not as ministers, as ministers in this regard, within the holy orders" said Francis, referring to the sacrament of ordination.

Disappointment

"I was quite devastated to see his response" said Kate McElwee, executive director of the Women's Ordination Conference.

The Conference also advocates for women's ordination as priests and bishops - which Francis has also clearly vetoed.

But McElwee said she is surprised Francis refused to ordain women to the diaconate.

"It's a very sad day when a powerful man like a pope tells a young girl that she can't, or will never be equal in their own church and will never be able to follow their call from God" McElwee says.

Some have a vocation to become ordained deacons, she believes.

Further study

Although Francis is against ordaining women deacons, he wants the idea of women deacons of the non-ordained variety considered in a synodal way.

At present, the issue of women deacons has been assigned to one of 10 study groups examining controversial issues.

The groups will report at the October 2024 meeting of the Synod on Synodality, and again in July 2025.

Women must be heard

Women's participation in the life and mission of the Church faces significant challenges.

Canonical and institutional reform is needed and better representation in leadership roles should be possible, the Catholic Church in Ireland told the synodal assembly in Rome last October.

Ireland's newly completed summary report says while the people appreciate the growing recognition of women's valuable contributions to the Church, more is needed.

Denying women ordination to the priesthood and the permanent diaconate is an ongoing concern.

"That these ministries are not open to women is seen by some as limiting their opportunities for leadership and decision-making roles, perpetuating a model of co-responsibility that is not fully inclusive" the summary states.

While some women feel very empowered in the Church today and valued for the roles they hold, change is sought.

"It was clear in the contributions that if women's voices are not heard at higher levels, nothing will change" the report says.

Source

• The Tablet
• Religion News Service

"My Catholic identity is so important to me, and it informs so much of how I interact with the world," said MacMaster, who is a candidate for a master's in divinity.

"I know the Church can be a force for good and instrumental change in the world, and it became very important to me to help affect that change."

MacMaster wouldn't pursue ordination if it were available to women and has not felt excluded from any forms of lay ministry by her gender, she said in an email interview.

Even so, she has often felt that other Catholics expect her to pursue children's ministry, or that her gender and age have caused her to be "talked over or pigeonholed into certain affinity ministries" in her work in the church.

In her multifaith seminary, she has experienced misogyny and anti-Catholic sentiment. Despite these experiences, MacMaster remains committed to her calling: "If I have to carve out a niche for myself, I will."

"Everything I've experienced has only made me stronger in my conviction to help all feel at home in their faith — to see themselves in this beautiful community," she wrote.

MacMaster's experiences and feelings about women's work in the church aren't uncommon, according to a recent survey conducted by the Women's Ordination Conference (WOC).

Titled "Mainstreaming Women's Ministries in the Roman Catholic Church," the survey found that 82% of those surveyed felt that women's ministries were not valued equally to men's.

Of the 224 young Catholic women in formation and ministry in the U.S. who responded, 80% were dissatisfied with the ministry opportunities available to them in the global church, and 73% said the same about local opportunities.

Although the survey respondents overwhelmingly described their Catholic identity as "extremely important," they also described a lack of women's leadership opportunities, financial insecurity and clericalism as barriers to the fulfillment of their ministerial paths.

"What this survey affirms is that women of the church are overwhelmingly educated and trained and thoughtful Catholic leaders, and they will persist," said Kate McElwee, executive director of the Women's Ordination Conference.

But they will "persist to a point," McElwee said, referring to young Catholics who choose to disaffiliate with the institutional church.

"It's a loss that's happened for many generations before this one, and our hope is that we can work to support these women to stall their exit," she said.

McElwee said the survey was a response to the resurgence of her organization's Young Feminist Network and Women's Ordination Conference members struggling with ministerial discernment after completing pastoral degrees. Continue reading

• The views expressed here do not necessarily reflect those of CathNews.

The lay women surveyed say these frustrations are barriers to them fulfilling their ministerial paths in the church.

Entitled "Mainstreaming Women's Ministries in the Roman Catholic Church," the survey was conducted by the Women's Ordination Conference (WOC).

Of the 224 young Catholic lay women in formation and ministry in the U.S. who responded, 82 percent of respondents think women's ministries are not valued equally to men's.

In addition, 80 percent are dissatisfied with the ministry opportunities available to them in the global church, and 73 percent said the same about local opportunities.

Survey respondents overwhelmingly described their Catholic identity as "extremely important." Eighty-two percent attend Mass at least once a week.

"What this survey affirms is that women of the church are overwhelmingly educated and trained and thoughtful Catholic leaders, and they will persist," says Kate McElwee, executive director of the Women's Ordination Conference.

However, they will only "persist to a point," McElwee says.

Young Catholics are choosing to disaffiliate with the institutional church.

"It's a loss that's happened for many generations before this one, and our hope is that we can work to support these women to stall their exit," she says.

McElwee says the survey responded to the WOCs Young Feminist Network and Women's Ordination Conference members' struggles with ministerial discernment after completing pastoral degrees.

The survey report cites women's inclusion and ordination as the two most common changes respondents wished to see in the church. Thirty percent of respondents say they would pursue ordination in the diaconate or priesthood if they could.

Although many respondents identified vocations that did not fit within the existing structure of the institutional church, 82 percent would not seek ordination through an independent Catholic movement.

McElwee says this result is "surprising."

"A lot of the members of the WOC really look to those movements as prophetic witnesses, living their vocation and modeling a new, renewed ministry," she says.

"To see that that really didn't seem like an option to the survey respondents is interesting for our movement to consider."

McElwee says the WOCs primary goal now is to "listen to the women who took the survey and to respond as a community" in the form of discussion groups and conversations among members of the Women's Ordination Conference and its Young Feminist Network.

The survey and the discussion it generates will show "women who are persisting in their faith and in their ministry and in their careers know that they're not alone," she says.

Source

• National Catholic Reporter
• Image: National Catholic Reporter