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August 2, 2016

Pope names six women, six men to panel to study women deacons

Pope Francis poses with clergy and women religious during his general audience in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican Oct. 7, 2015. The Pope has appointed a panel of six women and six men to study women deacons

VATICAN CITY – Pope Francis has appointed six men and six women to a commission to study the issue of women deacons, particularly their ministry in the early church.

Published in Vatican
May 26, 2016

Time to rethink role of women in Church

Women praying at St. Michael's Cathedral during a diaconate ordination ceremony in 2012. Bob Brehl it is time to rethink the role of women in Church.

Does anybody today believe men are intellectually superior to women because of their gender? The question is not about the intelligence of an individual man or woman, but collectively. Simply put: if you have the Y chromosome does it make you smarter?

Published in Robert Brehl
May 19, 2016

Call to study female deacons just one part of Pope’s review of role of women in Church

Sr. Rita Larivée

An exclusive focus on whether or not women might be ordained deacons misses the real point of the conversation Pope Francis had with leaders of 900 orders of nuns May 12 at the Vatican, said a Canadian sister who was present for the gathering.

Published in Faith
May 18, 2016

Top nun pushes for women deacons, greater role for Catholic women

Pope Francis greets Sister Carmen Sammut, president of the International Union of Superiors General, during an audience with the heads of women's religious orders in Paul VI hall at the Vatican May 12. During a question-and-answer session with members of the UISG, the pope said he was willing to establish a commission to study whether women could serve as deacons.

VATICAN CITY – Catholic sisters globally would be better-equipped to carry out their work if they could become deacons, the head of a global network of nuns has said, an important marker in the sharp debate over women deacons that Pope Francis opened last week.

Published in Faith
May 13, 2016

Pope did not say he'd ordain women deacons, spokesman says

Pope Francis embraces Sister Carmen Sammut, a Missionary Sister of Our Lady of Africa and president of the International Union of Superiors General, during an audience with the heads of women's religious orders in Paul VI hall at the Vatican May 12. During a question-and-answer session with members of the IUSG, the pope said he was willing to establish a commission to study whether women could serve as deacons.

VATICAN CITY – After some news outlets reported the Pope was considering ordaining women deacons and comments were made about women deacons leading to women priests, Jesuit Father Federico Lombardi clarified the Pope’s comments May 13.

Published in International