Posted on 08/02/2016 3:53:47 PM PDT by NRx
I suspect most of our readers have already seen elsewhere that the Holy See has announced the formation of a commission to study the question of women deacons. A member of Fr Zuhlsdorf’s commentariat has very cleverly pointed out a statement by the Holy Father himself to the effect that the surest way to make sure a question remains unresolved is to appoint a commission.
I noticed while Googling the matter that almost all of what is available on the internet about this matter relates either to the Pope’s original statement back in May that he would consider appointing such a commission (in the statement linked above), or to today’s announcement. Very few results come back with any reference to the International Theological Commission’s study of women deacons, which examined the question during the papacy of St John Paul II. Their report was published in 2002 after four years of work, “approved in forma specifica by unanimous vote of the Commission on 30th September 2002. It was then submitted to its President, Card. J. Ratzinger, Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of Faith, who authorised its publication.” It is available here in English from the Vatican’s official website.
http://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/congregations/cfaith/cti_documents/rc_con_cfaith_pro_05072004_diaconate_en.html
Including the titles, foreword, introduction and footnotes, it clocks in at a bit over 42,000 words; this works out to about 85 single-spaced pages in the standard layout (Times New Roman, 12-point). The members of the new commission probably don’t have to worry about whether they can keep their day jobs, since a very large portion of their work has already been done for them. It is difficult to imagine that any significant historical documents or liturgical texts referring to women deacons in the ancient Church have been discovered since 2002.
I make bold to suggest to any fellow bloggers or Catholic journalists who may read this article that the existence of this earlier study really is essential information on the topic, and should be included in any future articles regarding what the Pope has done today and the work of the commission.
This is exactly what Demorats do!
The Pope should worry about addressing how Catholic Seminaries have become infiltrated by homosexuals who are hooking up in sacred houses of worship, disgracing god.
Gay-sex scandal hits Irish seminary
http://www.dailystar.com.lb/News/World/2016/Aug-02/365220-gay-sex-scandal-hits-irish-seminary.ashx
World
Aug. 02, 2016 | 08:42 PM
Gay-sex scandal hits Irish seminary
Agence France Presse
DUBLIN: The head of Ireland’s biggest Catholic diocese said Tuesday he had moved trainee priests from the country’s leading seminary over allegations of homosexual activity among students and staff, including the use of the Grindr dating app.
If you don’t like the results: try try again.
I love how it is asserted that there are different views, as if the mere existance of different views NOW has any bearing on if deviant views are actually reasonable / valid. One might look as how American “progressives” assert that the Framers had different views about the government as if them disagreeing on things like where the federal did its banking had any bearing on how they might feel about Social Security, welfare, or Obamacare.
The Pope never uttered a peep when Ireland, once again, brought homo marriage up for a national referendum; and this time it passed.
Bergoglio is very observant of recent modernist triumphs.
“No” never means “no” when socialism or perversions are being advanced.
In the past I’ve had “progressives” say that people want various policies I’m opposed to, as if that means they must eventually get them.
That's right! Roe v Wade has yet come up for a "recount".
Oh, but it’s sure coming up for THE count ... those books that will be opened alongside the Lamb’s Book of Life are being filled up as we speak.
Granted, no one is damned because of what is written in them, only because someone’s name is not found written in the Lamb’s Book, but they are still gonna get a public reading proclaiming all their deeds and thoughts before the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, all the elect who have already stood before Christ’s judgment seat, the holy angels, and all those still milling around awaiting their turn to see if their name appears in the one place of record that actually matters when all is said and done.
I believe it says somewhere about every tongue being silenced on that day.
I occasionally ponder that we live in an era where many, so impressed with their own goodness, might somehow imagine that were they put where Isaiah was that not only would they not despair of life (as he did) they’d get a pat the back from God for being such nice folks....
Familiaris consortio, authored by St. JPII, was the last word on Communion for the divorced and civilly remarried. It unambiguously nixed it. Did that stop two phony, orchestrated Synods on the Family which addressed an already settled issue and the production of Amoris Laetitia which has spread confusion and dissent? Of course not.
It will be the same with the issue of deaconesses. The fix is in.
Deaconesses existed before. Though the role then was probably different that what is being proposed. The office called “Deacon” has meant many different things through the years, waxing and waning, but was most often a step on a mans path to ordination. However, it was also a stopping point for many.
I pray you are wrong about deaconesses. That would be universally seen as opening the door to female ordination. The RCC would be taking the same road as the Anglicans, just a few decades behind.
When you see what is gong on in the Catholic Church, it is enough to make one weep.
**When you see what is gong on in the Catholic Church, it is enough to make one weep.**
Indeed.
The office of “deaconess” was a lay office, not a part of Holy Orders and completely different from the Deacon. It had largely died out by the close of the first millennium. There are a handful of them still to be found, mostly in the Greek Church and mostly in convents. But if the Roman Church tries to revive this dead lay order it will be absolutely seized on by every feminist heretic as the first step to “equality” in the church.
I assume you mean a thousand years...But isn't it odd that when the bible says Millennium it means an unknown amount of time according to you guys...
JP2 had already spoken on the subject and had his own commission and that is the end of it. But along comes Francis to try and override what JP2 has already clarified. This is so much like Obama it’s not funny.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.