Church Times: ‘Still no to female deacons’ says Vatican official as synod begins
A SENIOR Vatican official has ruled out the ordination of female deacons, as participants gathered in Rome for a new round of the Synod on Synodality.
“We know the public position of the Pope, who does not consider this question mature,” the Prefect of the Dicastery for Doctrine of the Faith, Cardinal Víctor Manuel Fernández, said. “There are other issues still to be deepened and resolved before rushing to speak of a possible diaconate for some women. . . Otherwise, the diaconate becomes a kind of consolation for some women, while the most decisive question of women’s participation in the Church remains unanswered.” […]
[…] The statement provoked protests, however, from some RC women’s groups, including the Catholic Women’s Council, a global network of 60 organisations. Its European director, Regina Franken, said that her members were “no longer willing” to accept “delaying tactics”.