In response to the question: "What is the church's teaching on Eucharistic Ministers? Are women allowed to be Eucharistic Ministers?Bill offers the following response: In 1969 the Holy See ruled that "a woman of outstanding piety may be chosen in case of necessity, that is, whenever another fit person cannot be found." In 1973, the role was expanded to be as open to women as to men; the document "Immensae Caritatis" makes no differentiation between men and women as extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion.Pope Paul VI's January 29, 1973 decree permitting non-ordained persons to distribute Holy Communion (Instruction on Facilitating...