Women Deacons in the Roman Catholic Church

Historical Information

• General Introduction to Women Deacons
• When did the Church begin to ordain Women Deacons?
• Women Deacons in historical records
• 100 + Women deacons known by name
• Church Councils on Women Deacons
• Lists of Women Deacon Saints
• Deaconesses in Late Antique Gaul

Our debate with the Congregation for Doctrine in Rome

• Document by the International Theological Commission
  with critical commentary
• The ancient diaconate of women was a sacrament (1)
• The Ordination of Women Deacons was sacramental (2)
• Women were ordained deacons
• German Catholic Women write to Cardinal Ratzinger

The ancient Ordination rites

• the Apostolic Constitutions ---- 500 AD
• the Barberini gr. 336 manuscript ---- 780 AD
• the Grottaferrata gr. Gb1 manuscript - 1020 AD
• Vatican manuscript gr. 1872 ---- 1050 AD
• Coislin gr. 213 manuscript ---- 1050 AD
• reconstructed from seven manuscripts
• Syriac manuscript.
• present-day reconstructions of the ancient ordination rite

The ministry of women deacons

• Overall tasks
• functions at baptism
• parish work
• service at the altar
• supervisory roles

Conclusion

The sacramental diaconate for women should be re-instated in the Catholic Church!

For a full explanation on the tombstones, click here!