A Hofstra University professor is at the forefront of a new push that could help transform the 1.3 billion-member Roman Catholic Church: allowing women to serve as deacons and perform some of the same duties as priests, such as preaching at Mass.
The issue is on the list of items to be discussed at a major international “synod” that Pope Francis is convening in October in Rome.
Phyllis Zagano, a Hofstra University research associate and adjunct professor, says the synod, or monthlong meeting, represents the highest profile yet given to the issue and is “a major step forward.” Zagano is considered a leading expert on the topic and was appointed by Pope Francis in 2016 to a special commission to examine it.
Now she is hopeful women deacons could become a reality in the not-distant future, shaking up the Catholic Church, an institution whose hierarchy is dominated by men.
WHAT TO KNOW
- Allowing women to become deacons in the Roman Catholic Church is getting a push at a major Vatican conference next month.
- Deacons perform some of the same duties as priests, such as preaching at Masses, baptizing people and officiating at weddings.
- Experts say women deacons existed in the early Christian church — one, St. Phoebe, has her feast day on Sunday.
The synod, two years in the making due to worldwide consultations, is a gathering of 400 representatives from the Roman Catholic Church. Every diocese in the world, including Rockville Centre, was asked to hold meetings in local parishes to find out what the faithful were thinking about and in which direction the church should go.
Zagano and other experts say one of the main topics is elevating women to the role of deacon, whose duties also include baptizing people and officiating at weddings. Unlike priests, deacons cannot celebrate Masses, hear confession, or administer last rites. Deacons can be married because they don’t take a vow of celibacy as priests do. Both deacons and priests are ordained.
‘It’s…
Read the full article here
Leave a Reply