[eastsider]

Prior to Vatican II, there were four minor orders: acolyte, exorcist, lector and porter. In the early 70's, the minor orders of exorcist and porter were done away with, and the two remaining minor orders of acolyte and lector were redesignated 'ministries.'

Since then, only men were formerly instituted into the ministries of acolyte and lector because those ministries were deemed steps in seminary formation leading to priestly ordination. The women lectors at Mass that have been commonplace for the past 50 years were not formally instituted.

What's different now is that Pope Francis is formally instituting women as lectors because the instituted ministry of lector is no longer deemed to be a step leading to priestly ordination.

[ebb tide]

What's different now is that Pope Francis is formally instituting women as lectors because the instituted ministry of lector is no longer deemed to be a step leading to priestly ordination.

Or could it be a sneaky back-door step towards justifying womyn deacons or even priestesses in the near future?