As the Synod ponders women deacons, the international Roman Catholic Women Priests ordains women deacons, priests and bishops now- leading the institutional Church towards inclusivity and gender equality.
Women deacons movement hopes for concrete proposals in next synod stage
When Casey Stanton, who has spent the last year leading synod listening sessions throughout the United States, traveled to Mexico last month, she repeatedly heard the phrase "poco a poco" — or "little by little" — used to describe how change takes place in the Catholic Church.
For Stanton, who is co-director of Discerning Deacons, a project dedicated to engaging Catholics in conversations about the role of women and the diaconate, the phrase was not a lament, but rather words of encouragement and affirmation that change and renewal is possible. She has been meeting in Rome with a number of Vatican officials engaged in the synod process and to present the group's findings after holding hundreds of listening sessions.
For the team at Discerning Deacons, the synodal process is not a "one-and-done" experience. It is an invitation to share what Stanton describes as "good news": that the Catholic Church is eager to offer a listening ear to the desires and concerns of all of its members, not just the clergy.
More background:
In September, 56 Discerning Deacons pilgrims from four countries gathered in Mexico City to celebrate St. Phoebe’s feast day and consider how they might urge the Catholic Church to reclaim the diaconate for women.
You can find all of our coverage on the synod on synodality
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