The Vatican recently issued a report saying 'no' for now to ordaining women as deacons, concluding that current theological understanding doesn't support it as a sacramental order.
Pope Francis in 2016 ordered a first study commission on the issue following a request from the umbrella organization of the world’s female religious orders, the International Union of Superiors General. After that commission apparently failed to reach consensus, Francis created a second study commission in 2020, named for its president, president Cardinal Giuseppe Petrocchi, which released its report Thursday.
A statement was released through a high-level commission led by Cardinal Petrocchi seemed to indicate a stalemate between theological views on tradition and a more inclusive vision for women in the Catholic Church saying more reflection on the subject is needed.
The commissions verdict voted against admitting women to the diaconate as a degree of Holy Orders highlighting two opposing theological viewpoints with one supporting female deacons and the other emphasizing the unity of Holy Orders with the masculinity of Christ making a female deacon a problem.
The report stated it is not possible to make a definitive judgment at this time, suggesting more study and developments.
The debate involves historical claims that women served as deacons (deaconesses) in the early church, which proponents cite as support.
While Pope Leo hasn't commented directly, he has previously expressed skepticism about ordaining women, aligning with Pope Francis' concerns about 'clericalizing' women.
Deacons in the Catholic Church are ordained ministers who perform many of the same functions as priests, presiding at weddings, baptisms and funerals. They can preach but cannot celebrate Mass.
For male seminarians, the diaconate is a transitional ministry on their way to being ordained as priests. Married men can also be ordained as permanent deacons.
Women’s Ordination Conference, a U.S.-based group that advocates for women priests, said it was “appalled” by the Vatican’s “refusal to open its doors to women, even a crack. Make no mistake: this is a decision that will harm the global church,” the group said.
Opponents say ordaining women to the deaconate would signal the start of a slippery slope toward ordaining women to the priesthood. The Catholic Church reserves the priesthood for men, saying Christ chose only men as his 12 Apostles.