Posted on 04/29/2013 4:49:39 PM PDT by marshmallow
Germany's top Roman Catholic has called for women to be allowed to become deacons, which would enable them to perform baptisms and marriages outside of mass - a novelty for Catholic women.
Archbishop of Freiburg Robert Zollitsch, who chairs the German Bishops' Conference, called for the change at the end of a four-day meeting to discuss possible reforms.
The conference, the first of its kind, invited 300 Roman Catholic experts to propose reforms. Zollitsch's comments echo year-long calls from the Central Committee of German Catholics to permit women to become deacons. On Sunday, Zollitsch said that aim was no longer a 'taboo.'
Zollitsch said the Catholic Church could only regain credibility and strength by committing to reform. He described an "atmosphere of openness and freedom" at the conference.
Deacons assist priests during church services and can perform baptisms and marriages outside of mass. Their primary role however is to serve the needy in their community and their duties are considered secular rather than pastoral.
Another proposal to emerge from the conference was to extend the rights of remarried divorcees to sit on church bodies such as parish councils. Conference members also discussed the possibility of granting them the right to receive Holy Communion and attend confession.
"It's important to me that, without undermining the sanctity of marriage, these men and women are taken seriously within the church and feel respected and at home," said Zollitsch. At present the reforms remain speculative and there is no proposed time-frame for their implementation. The position of divorcees remains highly controversial within the Church.
(Excerpt) Read more at thelocal.de ...
Sounds like just another way to foment dissent.
Women Catholic Deacons ‘No Longer Taboo’
There’s hope for Sinkspur!
Incorrect. That's why it's called the Permanent Diaconate.
I guess it’s time for a new top Catholic in Germany. Archbishop of Freiburg Robert Zollitsch clearly would be more at home in the Church of England and he should be helped there post haste!
Projected Outcome:
In related news, Pope Francis accepted Bishop Zollitsch’s resignation...
I believe there have been several ‘Permanent Deacons’ who, after the death of their wives, went on to join the priesthood. It’s not an automatic thing, but at that point, they’ve already completed some of the steps.
Cannot (not will not) happen. There is only a single sacrament of Holy Orders which was established by Jesus Christ and which he conferred only on men. The division of the sacrament into three orders of bishop, priest and deacon were a latter development by the Apostles. The impossibility conferring the sacrament on women applies to the deaconate as much as the priesthood.
big taboo here.
-— . The impossibility conferring the sacrament on women applies to the deaconate as much as the priesthood. -—
Beginning, end and middle of story.
No, No, and he!! No and yes, I am a woman.
Deacons are either married and become a permanent Deacon serving the Church. Their wife will accompany them to many functions.
A transitional deacon is one who will be ordained a priest the following year. They usually work in a parish for during that one year.
I don’t believe post about women deacons at all because the Catholic Church endorses only the two positions I mentioned above.
Altar service is a stepping stone to the priesthood too, and that’s been infiltrated.
I believe you are right. They cannot remarry and can proceed to another step of Holy Orders: Diaconate — Priesthood — Episcopate (Bishop).
Sinkspur! That’s a handle I haven’t seen in a long time. Good old Sinky. Banned, no?
By the way there are many Permanent Deacons who are single.
There is a world of difference between the formation process of a Permanent Deacon - most Dioceses have very little actual classroom instruction in what basically amounts to a correspondence course- and that of a Priest.
And He's not found in the mirror.
Female deconess are in the bible so I have no problem with this.
I do believe however there are strict rules in the bible for a woman to be a deconess and that those rules ought to apply today.
Who was teaching these people in the 5th grade?
He also conferred it only on Jews.
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