NBC News Detroit—‘A really welcome change’: Pope officially expands women’s roles in Catholic Church

The role of women in the Catholic Church is expanding and it’s no longer based on the decision of an individual Bishop. It’s coming from the top.

“It’s a really welcome change from the Pope,” Katie Lacz, of Women’s Ordination Conference, said.

Advocates for gender equality in the Catholic Church are praising the decision by Pope Francis.

“The church will no longer deny women and girls the opportunity to participate in this ministry,” Lacz said.

For decades, girls and women have been allowed to be lectors and altar servers. But up until now, it was left to the discretion of individual bishops. Pope Francis has now made it canon law.

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Lacz adds, “To be a young girl and to see another girl as an altar server, assisting at the altar or to be someone hearing the Bible spoken and proclaimed by a woman’s voice, is really profound.”

The Women’s Ordination Conference hopes this will pave the way for women to serve as ordained deacons, priests and bishops.

If the church, “Advocates for human rights, but treats half of its members in a way that denies 50 percent equality. That advocacy, that witness, feels hollow,” Lacz said. “We’re not trying to do something radically new, we’re trying to recover what was already there and also to heed where we feel the spirit is calling the church.”

Read the full article from Click On Detroit here. You can also read WOC’s press release on the Vatican’s announcement here.