Full list of members of Vatican’s commission for the study of women deacons (Cath Caucus)

Catholic World Report ^ | August 2, 2016 | Catherine Harmon

[NYer]

Pope Francis greets Sister Carmen Sammut, president of the International Union of Superiors General, during an audience with the heads of women's religious orders in Paul VI hall at the Vatican May 12. During a question-and-answer session with members of the UISG, the pope said he was willing to establish a commission to study whether women could serve as deacons. (CNS photo/L'Osservatore Romano)

Today the Vatican announced the names of the members of a new commission established to study the question of women in the diaconate.

In May, Pope Francis told a gathering of women religious community leaders that he would look into establishing a commission to “clarify” the issue of women deacons, specifically as it related to practices of the early Church.

The commission, made up of six men and six women, was established “after intense prayer and mature reflection” on the Pope’s part, according to a statement from the Vatican today. The president of the commission is Archbishop Luis Francisco Ladaria Ferrer, SJ, secretary of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith.

Here is the full list of commission members as reported by Vatican Radio:

President:

Abp Luis Francisco Ladaria Ferrer, S.J., Secretary of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith

Members:

Sr. Nuria Calduch‑Benages, M.H.S.F.N., member of the Pontifical Biblical Commission;

Prof. Francesca Cocchini, of the La Sapienza University, and of the Patristic Institute “Augustinianum,” Rome;

Msgr. Piero Coda, President of the University Institute Sophia, Loppiano, and member of the International Theological Commission;

Fr Robert Dodaro, O.S.A., President of the Patristic Institute “Augustinianum,” Rome, and professor of patrology;

Fr Santiago Madrigal Terrazas, S.J., professor of ecclesiology at the Pontifical University “Comillas,” Madrid;

Sr Mary Melone, S.F.A., Rector of the Pontifical University “Antonianum,” Rome;

Fr Karl‑Heinz Menke, professor emeritus of dogmatic theology at the University of Bonn and member of the International Theological Commission;

Fr Aimable Musoni, S.D.B., professor of ecclesiology at the Pontifical Salesian University, Rome;

Fr Bernard Pottier, S.J., professor at the “Institut d'Etudes Théologiques,” Brussels, and member of the International Theological Commission;

Prof. Marianne Schlosser, professor of spiritual theology at the University of Vienna, and member of the International Theological Commission;

Prof. Michelina Tenace, professor of fundamental theology at the Pontifical Gregorian University, Rome;

Prof. Phyllis Zagano, professor at Hofstra University, Hempstead, New York. 

[NYer]

FROM ALETELIA

VATICAN CITY — The Vatican announced today that Pope Francis will institute a commission to study the diaconate of women.

“After intense prayer and mature reflection,” Vatican Radio reported, the Pope has appointed as president of the Commission, Archbishop Luis Francisco Ladaria Ferrer. A Spanish Jesuit, Archbishop Ladaria is currently Secretary of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith.

In May, during a meeting with the participants in the Plenary Assembly of Superiors General, Pope Francis expressed his intention to “establish an official commission that could study the question” of the diaconate of women, “especially with regard to the first ages of the Church.”

Cardinal Gerhard Müller, Prefect of the CDF, said in June that he thought little new would come from such a study.

He said the focus would be historic in nature, and would study the role of women deacons in the early Church, adding that an exhaustive study was completed in 2002.

That study found that female deacons of the early Church cannot be compared to the ordained male diaconate of today.

In addition to Archbishop Ladaria, Pope Francis has appointed six women and six men from academic institutions around the world.

[NYer]

CATHOLIC CAUCUS

Catholic ping!

[GreyFriar]

“That study found that female deacons of the early Church cannot be compared to the ordained male diaconate of today.”

I wonder if the study compared the duties of male and female deacons in the early Church, to see if there as a similarity in responsibilities at that time?

[ebb tide]

Three Jesuits and six women appointed to the commission. Looks about as rigged as Francis’ SinNods.

[Arthur McGowan]

Well, at least it may take the Pope’s attention off denying the existence of Muslim terrorism for awhile.

[ebb tide]

I think he wakes up every morning thinking, “How can I make a mess today?”

[NKP_Vet]

Francis could care less that Saint John Paul II has already said no to female deacons. He could care less what other popes have said. He knows more than all of them combined. It sounds exactly like something Obama would do.

[Salvation]

We should be able to find emails or addresses for hard copy letters for these people.

I don’t want this. It’s already been studied and recommended not to follow such an innovation.

Why is money being spent on it AGAIN?

[ebb tide]

“We Catholics have some — and not some, many — who believe they possess the absolute truth and go ahead dirtying the other with calumny, with disinformation, and doing evil. They do evil. I say this because it is my Church, " Papa Tango.

[dangus]

Papa Whiskey Tango Francis?

[dangus]

Zagano is certainly a troubling appointment. Her doctorate is in religion, from a Christian-hostile, state university (SUNY Buffalo). And the focus of her scholarly career has been that of activist, arguing for deaconesses. There seems no chance that her mind is open to the possibility that the Catholic Church should not make women deaconesses.