The Deacon Veto

Why is it that only the “no” votes matter? That change can be put off because not everybody agrees? Not to decide is to decide, the mantra of Pope Francis when it comes to us.

Once again, women are revealed as the third rail of the church. You’ll be executed if you touch it, so better to look at it down there in the subway tunnel and then get on the train without thinking about how the train gets to where it’s going.

This train of the church doesn’t go anywhere without the work of women. We have to applaud the work of Phyllis Zagano and other theologians and biblical scholars who have provided the evidence, over and over again, that women were ordained deacons. As I wrote before, this is connected to priests in the mind of the hierarchy and everyone else, despite the elaborate subterfuge of examining the biblical texts, the early rituals.

But thank goodness the question was asked by NCR. The most complete summary is in America, with the odd caveat that it  “is a working translation that may be subject to revision when the Vatican releases a definitive transcript.” I get so annoyed with their consistent tentativity, a word I just made up. But then they posted a video with English supertitles, and if you understand Italian you know exactly what Francis said in the first part of his comments.

Lifesite quotes the most:

“They were all different, all toads from different wells,” he quipped. “Everyone thought differently, but they worked together, and they agreed up to a certain point. But then each of them has his/her own vision which isn’t in agreement with the others. And they stopped there as a commission, and each one is studying on his/her own to go forward.”

…The Pope then pointed out something he found particularly interesting. “No one talks about it, but some theologians a few years ago, thirty years ago, said there were no deaconesses because women were second class in the Church — and not only in the Church. But it’s interesting, at that time there were a lot of pagan priestesses. The female priesthood in the pagan cults was the order of the day.”

Toads? Pagan priestesses? Does even the diaconate open the doors to a great unconscious fear of women and women’s power? Should we regard this as just another one of the Pope’s colorful metaphors when thinking about women? Did he talk about the German bishops who disagreed on communion for non-Catholics that way? His gesture, a hopping hand – see it on the video.

WOC issued the perfect statement, brief and avoiding the sensational in favor of responsible argument. My favorite quote? “Recognizing the ministerial gifts and vocations of women is not optional.”

On Wednesday, WOC sent a letter to members connecting this “painfully absurd” situation with actions for Vocations Sunday, by coincidence (or action of the Holy Spirit) this week. How can you not show up? Or tweet? Or something? Resources, including posters and tweets prepared before this kerfuffle, are on the website. Note that some witnesses, like ours, May 18, in Philadelphia, are on other dates than May 12.

FutureChurch’s Focus News this week is a blog by co-director Deborah Rose-Milavec, who continues the legacy of founding director Christine Schenk, SSJ, who began promoting women deacons years ago. Deb asks, 

Who has eyes to see that women set off alongside their brothers on a path of complete uncertainty with a motley, itinerant group of believers who, with Jesus, thought God’s dream for the world was much larger and more radically loving and inclusive than had been previously understood?

It’s so important to see the true church today as “motley” and “itinerant,” not the massive institution trying to defend the indefensible, which I think I have said before. Check the links to the women called to be deacons today. This excellent program makes real the call of women who tell the stories of their lives. I bet you’ll find someone you know, someone you didn’t expect to be there. I did: Elizabeth Tetlow, from New Orleans.

FutureChurch’s press release mentions the next step: “This Friday, [May 10] Pope Francis will meet with members of the International Union of Superiors General (UISG) who first questioned him about the possibility of women deacons in May 2016.” What will he say to the representatives of all these faithful women, who tried to alert him to a sign of the times? Perhaps you will know whether he brings up the toads and the priestesses, or once again, only talks the talk.

I am adding to the blog on Friday because now I know whether he brings up the toads and the priestesses, or once again, just talks the talk. Francis did give “officially, the result of the little that they were all able to agree on” to the president of the UISG. So most of what was submitted by the commission is redacted?

But in contrast to some in other contexts, Francis took questions. According to NCR, “one sister told Francis that women like her were seeking to serve the church on an equal setting with men. She asked why the question of whether women could serve as deacons rested on historical practice.” That is the crucial question – why on this alone?

Francis went around and around the development of doctrine, at one point saying, “In the case of the diaconate, we have to see what was there at the beginning of revelation. If there was something, let it grow, let it live. If there was not something … it doesn’t work.” He concluded this discussion with the rather snide, “We are Catholics. If someone wants to make another church, they are free to do so.” WOC’s Friday letter to members urged us again to get out there for Vocation Sunday! We ARE Catholics!!!!!

I will go back to trains, lest you think we are in an endless loop. Dear Pope, we are singing. “There’s another train, There always is, The next one is yours, Get up and climb aboard, There’s another train.” Women are taking our many different trains to leadership in the church. We want the main line as well.