Vatican Officials Downplay Speculation on Women Deacons

Catholic Culture ^ | 5/16/16

[marshmallow]

Two Vatican officials downplayed speculation occasioned by Pope Francis’s call for the establishment of a commission to study women deacons-- “above all with regard to the early days of the Church,” as the Pope said during a question-and-answer session with women religious superiors on May 12.

In examining the Pope’s remarks, “we need to be honest” said Father Federico Lombardi, the director of the Holy See Press Office. “The Pope did not say he intends to introduce the ordination of female deacons, and even less did he talk about the ordination of women as priests.”

[circlecity]

“The Pope did not say he intends to introduce the ordination of female deacons, and even less did he talk about the ordination of women as priests.”

Then why establish a commission to study a question that has been well resolved by scripture and tradition for 2000 years?

[SleepySimon]

There is very little doubt that there were female deacons in the early church. (The Eastern Orthodox kept them around even longer than the western churches.) That custom presumably fell away for a reason. Certain clerical customs of the church - clerical celibacy for example - have changed over time. A commission to study the issue of female deacons and determine if they are needed, useful, or wanted at this time seems appropriate.

[circlecity]

Both Titus and 1st Timothy tell us that Deacons and Pastors are to be men.

[SleepySimon]

Penelope was called deacon. And there are records of ordinations. I’m not debating if the practice is appropriate. I’m only stating that there is historical precedent. The Eastern Orthodox have better records of it since it went on far longer.

[marshmallow]

Female deacons in the early Church were not ordained and their ministry was non-sacramental. That is to say, it was not derived from the male presbyterate as is the case for the ordained diaconate. This is an important distinction and the Pope must know this.

The role of female deacons included discharging charitable functions often associated with the temporal well-being of poorer Christians and assisiting at baptisms where the practice of whole-body immersion and the anointing of the whole body meant that modesty and propriety were best serve by the assistance of women in the case of female catechumens.

[SleepySimon]

Ok. Whatevs. That really doesn’t say much about my points. There is historical precedent. The practice fell away. It’s appropriate to establish a commission to see if maybe the practice shouldn’t have been left to whither.

[Salvation]

**Then why establish a commission to study a question that has been well resolved by scripture and tradition for 2000 years? **

Exactly!

[circlecity]

"I’m not debating if the practice is appropriate. I’m only stating that there is historical precedent."

I guess my response would be, so what? There is also historical precedent for just about every unbiblical practice imaginable.

[stocksthatgoup]

Make the Vatican go away until we have a Catholic Pope

[marshmallow]

There is historical precedent

For what? That is the issue.

There is no historical precendent for ordained female deacons. That is my point.

IOW, the ministry undertaken by "deaconesses" did not derive from the ordained male presbyterate. This is important because there is a vocal minority within the Church which is agitating for the ordination of women.

Furthermore, the possibility of ordained female deacons has already been ruled out, most recently by John Paul II and BXVI.

What's to study?

[arthurus]

Such speculation is regarded as counter productive and makes for more resistance and objection in the period before the new thing is proclaimed. I will ride out the new heresies until this Pope is gone, then if there is no Vatican move to restore the status quo ante I will understand that the Church has become Apostate and I will probably go to the other trunk of the Church i.e. Orthodoxy.

[AustinBill]

The Papal spin doctors do keep busy.

[stonehouse01]

This pope purposefully sows the seeds of doctrinal confusion. He exhorts and introduces “possibilities” such as the heretical idea that an individual’s conscience alone can determine the rightness or wrongness of an act.

This is patently absurd because the formation of the consciences of the young is in serious disarray in this present day and age. It is the duty of the parents and the Church together to teach the young right from wrong and since the 1960’s there have been catechetical forces within the Church working against or at minimum failing to properly inform the minds of children entrusted to their formation on the nature of right and wrong and the objective difference between sinful and virtuous acts.

Francis is the proverbial wolf in sheep’s clothing disburse the flock through chaotic teaching.

Jesus Christ Pantocrator, ora pro nobis.

[piusv]

In examining the Pope’s remarks, “we need to be honest” said Father Federico Lombardi, the director of the Holy See Press Office.

LOL

“The Pope did not say he intends to introduce the ordination of female deacons, and even less did he talk about the ordination of women as priests.”

Oh stop playing the word games. Yes, he didn't "say" it. That's right....you do "need to be honest here". Too bad you're not.