Women’s inclusion in Sacred Orders ‘not about’ female emancipation

A change of tone by Pope Francis has left Roman Catholics wondering whether a study commissioned by the Pontiff will pave the way to eventually ordain female priests.

The Vatican media has moved quickly to report that the Pope did not consider the possibility of ordaining women priests. A complete transcript of the Pope’s answer to a question on the role of consecrated women in the Church shows the Pontiff talking about better inclusion whilst examining a greater official role for women within the Church.

On Thursday, Pope Francis met with 800 women general superiors from across the globe. It was during this session that he agreed that a commission should be set up to look into the issue of deaconate. At the same time, he argued that there were a lot of questions and different assertions surrounding deaconesses.

“Therefore, on the deaconate, yes, I accept, and a commission that clarifies this well seems useful to me, especially regarding the early days of the Church,” Pope Francis said.

Vatican observers however concur that the Pope’s statement was more of a change of tone – rather than a change in position – in showing that he is more willing to dialogue and debate questions that have been raised for years but were shut down by subsequent popes.

Sr Carmen Sammut, leader of the International Union of Superiors General (UISG), was more upbeat about the Pope’s reply, defining it as “a shock to the system of a male-dominated clergy”.

“It’s time that we start talking about it [women deacons],” Sr Carmen told La Repubblica.

Sr Carmen was among the nuns who put together the questions posed to Pope Francis, including the one about women deacons. She argued that the topic had been avoided by the Church worldwide despite many sisters carrying out services which, in themselves, would already be deaconate.

“I think it’s only fair that we are recognised as deacons, even because many of the people we give service to consider us so,” she said.

Sr Carmen said the Pope believed that more women should be in decision-making positions. In 2013, the Holy Father had in no unequivocal terms stated that male priesthood was not “open to discussion”. He did admit the need for a “more incisive female presence” in the Church’s life.

Contacted by MaltaToday for her opinion, Reverend Mother Atanasia Buhagiar shied away from entering into the merits of women deacons.

“It seems that the term women deacons leads to different interpretations and I don’t intend entering into polemics. To me, priests, deacons and any other Order in the Church are there to serve the people of God. I consider serving to be most important.”

Sr Atanasia, an Augustinian, said there has been a desire for the inclusion of women in the Sacred Orders for quite some time, in certain parts of the world.

“Sometimes I feel that it is wrongly considered as a move towards the emancipation of women. Again it depends on what idea one has of these Orders, whether it is one of privilege or service. Service and availability in the Church are not restricted to the ministerial priesthood only, but are carried out in many other countless ways by men and women who offer sterling service wherever and whenever required.”

Sr Atanasia argued that the first question to be posed is what meaning is given to the role of women in the Church.

“If we are still thinking of a role of service, then we should only consider where and when their service is needed. Pope Francis himself said to the women who put the question to him: ‘Your vocation is for service, service to the Church’.

“He admits that ‘[a] woman looks at life with true eyes […] The way of seeing problems, of seeing whatever thing is totally […] different than men. They have to be complementary. In consultations, it is very important that women be there’.

“In fact, the Pope also explains where he feels the inclusion of women is important in the Church: ‘For me, the elaboration of decisions is very important. Not only the execution, but the elaboration; namely, that women, whether consecrated or lay, are inserted into the process of the discussion’.”