[NYer]

An American nun, Sister Christine Schenk from FutureChurch, noted that parishes in the United States are being affected by the shortage of priests. Along with allowing non-celibate men into the priesthood, she suggested women deacons. "There are a lot of available and willing women out there," she said at a news conference Tuesday.

Leave it to the MSM to cite catholic dissenters.

[fortunecookie]

she suggested women deacons. "There are a lot of available and willing women out there," she said at a news conference Tuesday.

Ironic that there is a shortage of men, that will only get worse, but an unending supply of willing women (and some non-celibate men, if they run out of the ladies). Hmmm. No agenda here. Nothing to see, move along.

Leave it to the MSM to cite catholic dissenters.

You'd think there would be a lot less Catholic bashing, what with the news reporting positively on dissenters and their ideas as the 'mainstream'.

[Mrs. Don-o]

As I understand it, in the days of St. John Chrysostom etc. there were deaconesses whose role was catechizing and baptizing women. This was because men could not respectable visit women in their homes and then confer the sacrament of Baptism, which was done naked. These deaconesses also visited the sick, brought alms to the poor, and other wise participated in charitable work.

I don't think it was ever considered that they were in some way entering the clergy (deacon-priest-bishop), which was and is distinct.

[Theophane]

Hmmm, Fr. John Bartunek is, I think, Fr. John Bartunek, LC (of "Inside the Passion" and TV commentary fame).

Very interesting for several reasons.

He's a Stanford man, too.