The commission said, by a score of 7 to 1, that historical research and theological analysis “rule out the possibility” of women currently assuming this role, but recommended that the issue be studied further.
Discussions about the possibility of women becoming deacons – who are ordained and can assist in church services but cannot lead Mass – have rocked the 1.4 billion-member Church for more than a decade, Reuters reports.
Deacons can baptize, witness weddings and officiate at funerals, among other things. In some parts of the world they can also temporarily manage parishes in the absence of a priest, while the Mass must still be celebrated by a priest.
This role, for centuries considered only a stepping stone to the priesthood, was reshaped into a permanent position for married Catholic men after Church reforms in the 1960s.
The panel, led by a cardinal and a priest from the Vatican’s top doctrinal office, included both male and female church experts. In the report, they stated that their assessment against the inclusion of women in this function was clear, but “today’s position does not allow for the formulation of a final verdict”.
The late Pope Francis launched this discussion in 2016 following a request from a Rome-based group representing Catholic nuns and religious women around the world.
Francis formed two commissions to study this issue, which sat in secret. Thursday’s report is the first time the results of the discussions have been made public.
One of the members of the first commission, who advocated women deacons, criticized the new report.
(Vijesti.ba / FENA)
