"If we cannot ordain women as deacons, there is no reason to ordain men," writes Reese in a guest article for the portal"National Catholic Reporter" on Tuesday.
If the purpose of ordination is merely to give deacons more status, this is another form of clericalism.
The Church had existed for centuries without the permanent diaconate.
There is nothing a deacon can do that a layperson cannot do, said Reese.
Deacons are not allowed to celebrate mass, hear confessions or anoint the sick. Instead, they are allowed to preach in the Eucharist, which can also be done by lay people under canon law.
Lay people and deacons alike could baptise, marry and bury.
Reese demands: "Stop ordaining anyone as deacons and allow both women and men to take on many of the same tasks as catechists."
In addition, catechists would no longer have the "disadvantages" that the diaconate entails, such as the financial responsibility of the diocese for clergy, the celibacy obligation and the laicisation procedure "if a deacon gets into difficulties".
The aim of the permanent diaconate
Reese refers to the idea of reintroducing the permanent diaconate during the Second Vatican Council.
At that time, it was hoped that the introduction of the office would help with preaching in Africa and Asia.
However, according to Reese, it was mainly in Europe and America that permanent deacons were ordained: "There are only around 500 deacons in the whole of Africa, fewer than in the Archdiocese of Chicago, where there are over 850."
In Africa, on the other hand, the focus is on training catechists.
There are "more than 450,000 catechists who teach the faith, hold Bible studies, lead small Christian communities, prepare people to receive the sacraments and conduct communion services when priests are not available."
The issue of ordaining women as deacons in the Catholic Church has played a role for decades. It was most recently discussed during the Synod on Synodality.
Pope Francis also set up several commissions to investigate the possibility of ordaining women.
The results of these commissions have not yet been published.
In the run-up to the second plenary assembly of the Synod on Synodality in Rome in October, Pope Francis removed the issue from the discourse and referred it to a study group.
It is to discuss the issue by summer 2025.