Catholic Church Reform Process Expected to Disappoint Hopes of More Equity for Women

A yearslong process to reform Catholic Church closes Saturday with recommendations that are expected to fall far short of hopes that women would be given more equity but that reflect pope’s aims for a church that at least listens more to its flock.

Vatican’s top doctrinal officer, Cardinal Victor Manuel Fernandez, told extraordinary assembly of bishops and laypeople this week that Pope Francis said moment for allowing ordination of women as deacons in church “is not ripe.”

multi-year synod process h sparked great hopes for change, especially for women, who have long complained that y are treated as second-class citizens in church. Women are barred from priesthood and highest ministerial positions in Catholic Church, yet do lion’s share of work running Catholic hospitals and schools and passing faith onto future generations.

Speaking to synod on Thursday, Fernandez explained that a special working group would continue beyond closing of meeting, but that its focus would be on discussing role of women in church — not in diaconate. He ded that while working with women in previous pastoral roles, “most did not ask for or want diaconate, which would be cumbersome for ir lay work.”

He did not respond directly to a request to define what would determine “ripeness” for a greater role for women.

outcome is shaping up to be a disappointment for Catholics who have been campaigning for recognition that women share a spiritual calling that is no different than a man’s. y also noted that despite inclusion of women in synodal process, working group that is guiding discussions on women’s role is being run by Roman curia, operating outside synod.

“I think it is very clear that ordained men get to decide when time is right, and y get to decide what baptismal equality amounts to. It is very frustrating, but y laid it all out,’’ said Kate McElwee, executive director of Women’s Ordination Conference.

first phase of synod process ended last year by concluding it was “urgent” to guarantee fuller participation by women in church governance positions, and calling for ological and pastoral research to continue about allowing women to be deacons.

Deacons perform many of same functions as priests, such as presiding over baptisms, weddings and funerals, but y cannot celebrate Mass.

If before synod idea of allowing women to be deacons was a fringe proposal pushed by Western progressives, idea gained attention during debate. It became something of a litmus test of how far church was going to go, or not, to dress demands of women for greater equality and representation in highest ranks of church.

Francis, though, h or ideas, insisting that ordaining women would just “clericalize” m and that re were plenty of or ways to empower women in church, even leing Catholic communities, without resorting to ordination.

vocates say allowing women to be deacons would help offset shortage of Catholic priests and dress longstanding complaints about ir second-class status.

Opponents say ordaining women to deaconate would signal start of a slippery slope toward ordaining women to priesthood. Catholic Church reserves priesthood for men.

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