Sunday, October 13, 2024

Fernández asks for contributions on the diaconate for women at the Synod

The Prefect of the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith, Cardinal Víctor Manuel Fernández, has asked for contributions from the participants of the Synod on Synodality on the diaconate for women: "All members, theologians and theologians of the Synod, will have the opportunity to submit statements and contributions in the coming months," reads a statement by the Prefect of the Faith, which the Secretary General of the Synod, Cardinal Mario Grech, read out at a press conference on Wednesday, according to the Spanish online portal"Vida Nueva". 

According to the statement, "two theologians will be available at the synod session on 18 October to receive written or oral proposals on this topic".

At the opening of the synod last week, the commissions set up by Pope Francis presented interim reports on controversial issues. 

In particular, the interim report of Study Group 5 on theological and canonical questions on various ministries - including for women - in the Church, which is headed by the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith, was criticised by the synod assembly. 

"On the issue of women, the Synod has really demanded a kind of accountability," said Swiss delegate Helena Jeppesen-Spuhler in an interview on Tuesday. 

On 18 October, the coordinators of the study groups will have to answer questions from the synod members in a debate.

Magisterial document in "consultation phase"

At the presentation of the interim reports, Fernández had previously stated that his dicastery does not currently believe that there will be a positive decision on the diaconate of women. 

Pope Francis does not believe that the time is yet ripe for a decision on the diaconate of women. 

However, the studies must be continued. The Prefect of the Faith also announced a magisterial document on the role of women in the Church.

Grech explained at the press conference on Wednesday that the work on this document is now "in the consultation phase" following the hearing of the bishops and cardinals. While the advisors "who form the basis of the document" had already been consulted, the consultation was now also open to non-consultants.