WOC Responds to Pope Francis on CBS: “No” to Women Deacons?
For Immediate Release: May 21, 2024
During a wide-ranging CBS television interview with journalist Norah O’Donnell aired on May 20, Pope Francis rejected the possibility of women serving as ordained deacons or as members of the clergy. When asked by O’Donnell if a young Catholic girl ever would ever have the opportunity to be a deacon and participate as a clergy member of the church, Francis replied, “No.”
He went on to say, “If it is deacons with Holy Orders, no. But women have always had, I would say, the function of deaconesses without being deacons, right? Women are of great service as women, not as ministers…within the Holy Orders.”
The Women’s Ordination Conference (WOC) expresses great disappointment at Pope Francis’ failure to recognize the depth of women’s vocations, and the urgency of affirming their full equality in the church. In the past, Francis has reserved his “closed door” stance to women’s ordination to the priesthood, leaving the question of women deacons in the hands of study commissions.
For centuries, women have served in the tradition of the deacon Phoebe (Rm 16:1). Women of every generation have experienced and expressed their vocation from God to serve the church in ordained ministry.
The church is currently in the midst of a global consultation process, and calls for women’s equitable inclusion in all aspects of church life have been heard on every continent. Francis’ comment, coming just months before the second synod assembly opens in Rome this October, is not just out of step with the needs of the church today, but a betrayal of the synodal project of “journeying together.”
In that spirit, WOC invites Pope Francis to meet with women called to ordained ministry to more fully grasp their sincere calls to serve the church. We also ask synod delegates to speak boldly in this moment.
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CONTACT: Kate McElwee, Executive Director, Women’s Ordination Conference
Founded in 1975, the Women’s Ordination Conference (WOC) is the oldest and largest organization that works to ordain women as deacons, priests, and bishops into an inclusive and accountable Catholic Church.