On Monday, the leader of the Catholic Church, Pope Francis, announced a change in one of the church’s laws that will expand career opportunities for women within the Catholic faith.
Specifically, women will now be permitted to serve as readers at liturgies, altar servers and distributors of communion (the Mass).
With his Monday apostolic document, called a "Motu Proprio," Francis changed a 1972 canon law written by Pope Paul VI that decreed the ministries of Lectern and Acolyte could only be held by men, because they were considered preparatory to admission to the priesthood.
By introducing the change in the Code of Canon Law, it will be impossible for conservative bishops to block women in their diocese from having those roles. Previously, such roles were officially reserved for men, even though exceptions were made.
That the pope is taking doctrinal steps to be more inclusive, is radical,” said Kate McElwee, the executive director of the Women’s Ordination Conference (WOC).
“In addition, it shows that Pope Francis clearly has the authority to change church teaching in order to reflect the signs of the times and the sense of the faithful, both of which point to equality for women in the Church,” she added.
Expanding the roles women can occupy within the Catholic Church is the latest progressive move Pope Francis has undertaken in his eight-year tenure as pope. Earlier in 2020, he supported same-sex civil unions.
Advocates for expanding the diaconate to include women say doing so would give women greater say in the ministry and governance of the church, while also helping address priest shortages in several parts of the world.
Opponents say allowing it would become a slippery slope towards ordaining women to the priesthood.
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“He shall speak pompous words against the Most High, Shall persecute the saints of the Most High, And shall intend to change times and law. Then the saints shall be given into his hand For a time and times and half a time” (Daniel 7:25).