It’s not time for women deacons

Oct 12, 2024

On the first working day of the Synod on Synodality at the Vatican, Cardinal Victor Manuel Fernández, prefect of the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith, addressed speculation about the ordination of women as deacons.

“Based on the analysis conducted so far — including the findings from the two commissions established by Pope Francis on the female diaconate — the dicastery concludes that there is still no basis for a positive decision by the magisterium regarding women's access to the diaconate, understood as a degree of the sacrament of holy orders,” Cardinal Fernández stated on October 2.

Although study groups from the 2023 Synod have explored various controversial topics, such as women's ministries, LGBTQ ministry, and seminary education, the cardinal emphasised the need to study the historical roles women have played in the Church. He cited figures like St. Hildegard of Bingen and Dorothy Day, who exerted significant authority and influence without being tied to sacramental ordination.

The Synod remains focused on a range of topics, including how the Church can respond to contemporary social and ethical issues, how seminary formation can promote collaboration with laypeople, and how bishops can adopt more transparent and accountable leadership practices. These ongoing discussions reflect the Church’s path toward greater inclusivity and cooperation, guided by the Holy Spirit.