Cardinal Müller says study of female deacons will be mostly historical
June 14, 2016
Cardinal Gerhard Müller has again downplayed expectations that women could be ordained as deacons, emphasizing that a Vatican study on that topic is primarily aimed at the history of female deacons in the early Church.
Pope Francis made headlines last month by saying that he wanted a new Vatican study into the question of the female diaconate, “above all with regard to the early days of the Church.” He said that he would ask the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith to conduct that study. Cardinal Müller, the prefect of that congregation, said that his office is now compling a list of scholars who could be appointed to that committee.
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Further information:
- Vatican Doctrine Chief Limits Expectations for Women Deacons (AP)
- Vatican officials downplay speculation on women deacons (CWN, 5/16)
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Posted by: wsw33410 -
Jun. 14, 2016 7:17 PM ET USA
@Randall - agreed ... just get the facts straight (hope the study will clarify it) that women were NOT ordained, never had! They role were of nuns/abbesses in later centuries. We should encourage all those unhappy "sisters" to go back to their true role in the Church. Amen.
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Posted by: Randal Mandock -
Jun. 14, 2016 5:10 PM ET USA
I look forward to the report at the end of the study. The Fathers of the Church documented the important role of women in the Church that began in the days of Saints Peter and Paul. Even before that, when the Church was still nascent in Mary's womb, her cousin Elizabeth and Anna the prophetess played crucial roles.
