Catholic church reform process expected to disappoint hopes of more equity for women

VATICAN CITY -- A yearslong process to reform nan Catholic Church closes Saturday pinch recommendations that are expected to autumn acold short of hopes that women would beryllium fixed much equity but that bespeak nan pope’s intends for a religion that astatine slightest listens much to its flock.

The Vatican’s apical doctrinal officer, Cardinal Victor Manuel Fernandez, told nan bonzer assembly of bishops and laypeople this week that Pope Francis said nan infinitesimal for allowing ordination of women arsenic deacons successful nan religion “is not ripe.”

The multi-year synod process had sparked awesome hopes for change, particularly for women, who person agelong complained that they are treated arsenic second-class citizens successful nan church. Women are barred from nan priesthood and nan highest ministerial positions successful nan Catholic Church, yet do nan lion’s stock of nan activity moving Catholic hospitals and schools and passing nan religion onto early generations.

Speaking to nan synod connected Thursday, Fernandez explained that a typical moving group would proceed beyond nan closing of nan meeting, but that its attraction would beryllium connected discussing nan role of women successful nan church — not successful nan diaconate. He added that while moving pinch women successful erstwhile pastoral roles, “most did not inquire for aliases want nan diaconate, which would beryllium cumbersome for their laic work.”

He did not respond straight to a petition to specify what would find “ripeness” for a greater domiciled for women.

The result is shaping up to beryllium a disappointment for Catholics who person been campaigning for nickname that women stock a belief calling that is nary different than a man’s. They besides noted that contempt nan inclusion of women successful nan synodal process, nan moving group that is guiding discussions connected women’s domiciled is being tally by nan Roman curia, operating extracurricular nan synod.

“I deliberation it is very clear that ordained men get to determine erstwhile nan clip is right, and they get to determine what baptismal equality amounts to. It is very frustrating, but they laid it each out,’’ said Kate McElwee, nan executive head of nan Women’s Ordination Conference.

The first shape of nan synod process ended past twelvemonth by concluding it was “urgent” to guarantee fuller information by women successful religion governance positions, and calling for theological and pastoral investigation to proceed astir allowing women to beryllium deacons.

Deacons execute galore of nan aforesaid functions arsenic priests, specified arsenic presiding complete baptisms, weddings and funerals, but they cannot observe Mass.

If earlier nan synod nan thought of allowing women to beryllium deacons was a fringe connection pushed by Western progressives, nan thought gained attraction during nan debate. It became thing of a litmus trial of really acold nan religion was going to go, aliases not, to reside demands of women for greater equality and practice successful nan highest ranks of nan church.

Francis, though, had different ideas, insisting that ordaining women would conscionable “clericalize” them and that location were plentifulness of different ways to empower women successful nan church, moreover starring Catholic communities, without resorting to ordination.

Advocates opportunity allowing women to beryllium deacons would thief offset nan shortage of Catholic priests and reside longstanding complaints astir their second-class status.

Opponents opportunity ordaining women to nan deaconate would awesome nan commencement of a slippery slope toward ordaining women to nan priesthood. The Catholic Church reserves nan priesthood for men.

Francis has many times reaffirmed nan all-male priesthood and has sharply criticized “obtuse” agitators pressing for a female diaconate.