Pope Calls Dicastery to Promote Reflection on Role of Women

https://www.ncronline.org/news/vatican/pope-calls-dicastery-promote-reflection-role-women

Bridget Mary Meehan ARCWP conducts Memorial Service for Bob Bowen in Arlington, VA. on May 5, 2018

Bridget Mary's Response: The problem lies in "complementarity." What is needed is an affirmation of women as equals in every role and structure of church life including ordained ministry.Like Dr. Manson, I feel like a broken record on gender equality. The full equality of women must include women deacons, priests and bishops as I have said over and over again in this blog. ! For some in the hierarchy, perhaps, Francis, himself, this appears to be a bridge too far! Bridget Mary Meehan ARCWP, https://www.arcwp.org
See Jamie Manson's article in National Catholic Reporter https://www.ncronline.org/news/opinion/ncr-today/francis-needs-listen-women-not-cardinals

Pope Calls for Dicastery to promote reflection on role of women
https://www.ncronline.org/news/vatican/pope-calls-dicastery-promote-reflection-role-women

"...The dicastery works to deepen the reflection on the relationship between men and women in their respective specificity, reciprocity, complementarity and equal dignity," the new statutes said. "Valuing the feminine 'genius,' it offers a contribution to ecclesial reflection on the identity and mission of women in the church and in society, promoting their participation."

The new statutes, approved by the pope on an experimental basis, were released by the Vatican May 8 and were to go into force May 13. They replace statutes issued in June 2016, just before the new office began functioning under the leadership of U.S. Cardinal Kevin Farrell.

While most of the articles in the statutes were unchanged, the new set eliminated a requirement that the office have three separate sections — for laity, for family and for life — each presided over by an undersecretary. However, the new statutes said the office will have "at least two lay undersecretaries."

The introductory article added a reference to how, "in accordance with the principles of collegiality, synodality and subsidiarity," the dicastery is to maintain relations with national bishops' conferences, dioceses and other church groups and promote collaboration among them..."