A national office for women, to promote their inclusion in the Irish Catholic Church, was not recommended by more than half of delegates at the National Synodal Assembly today.
More than 300 delegates gathered in Co Meath to consider proposals regarding the future direction of the Church on issues including ministry, family, healing, women and young people.
As part of the voting process, delegates, which included men, women, lay, religious, and clergy, were asked to choose from four options: 'highly recommend', 'recommend', 'requires further discernment' and 'I do not recommend'.
55% of delegates chose 'I do not recommend' for the proposal to establish a national office for women to promote their inclusion in the Church.
A separate proposal suggesting that Ireland advocate for ongoing exploration of women's ministry, including the diaconate, received a more mixed response.
42% of delegates selected 'highly recommend', while a further 12% selected 'recommend'.
Meanwhile, 19% said the proposal required further discernment and 27% did not recommend it. The 27% vote against the proposal was the second-highest level of opposition recorded at the Assembly.
Another proposal relating to the role of women resulted in 20% opposition. It called for a national review in Ireland in light of paragraph 60 of the Vatican's Final Document of the Synod on Synodality published in 2024.
Paragraph 60 recognises that women and men have equal dignity through baptism, while acknowledging that women continue to face obstacles to the recognition of their gifts, vocation and contribution to Church life.
It also calls for greater opportunities for women to exercise leadership, and that existing provisions in Church law allowing women to take on roles of responsibility be fully implemented.
It says the question of women’s access to the diaconate remains open to further discernment.
The proposal received 41% 'highly recommend' responses and a further 17% 'recommend' responses. Some 22% of delegates said it required further discernment, while 20% did not recommend it.
Proposals that delivered the strongest support included a review of catechetical provision and sacramental preparation, which 69% of delegates highly recommended; a ministry of listening, welcoming and belonging in dioceses and parishes (63%); and engaging with Irish society in discerning the common good (63%).
Healing was also a key priority of the Assembly, reflecting calls for the Church to respond to the experiences of people who have been excluded, abused, wounded or hurt. 67% of delegates emphasised the need for listening to be accompanied by concrete action to support those affected.
Other proposals that got strong support included pathways of belonging for young people through pilgrimages and gatherings (55%), communities of accompaniment, discipleship and belonging (53%), and a national strategy for youth-focused online content (51%).
General Secretary of the Irish Synodal Pathway Julieann Moran, who has led the Irish synod for five years, described the gathering in Meath, as an extraordinary moment for the Church in Ireland.
The results will be sent to the Irish Bishops for their consideration over the coming months.
Archbishop of Armagh and President of the Irish Catholic Bishops’ Conference Eamon Martin said some of the recommendations made today, could be activated easily and quickly, but that others would require greater planning, deployment of resources and personnel.
"I also hope that initiatives which are already happening around the country can be shared with greater clarity in the light of the momentum coming from today’s Assembly," he said.