Vatican Restates Refusal to Allow Women Deacons
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VATICAN CITY — The Vatican has reiterated its refusal to allow women to become deacons, criticizing courses to train women for that role.
Ordination as deacons is a step below priesthood, which the church also limits to men. Deacons help celebrate liturgical services, among other duties.
The statement said Roman Catholicism “opens other ample prospectives of service and collaboration” for women.
The Vatican said it was responding to reports from several countries about courses “directly or indirectly aimed at the diaconal ordination of women.”
A major push to allow women to become deacons has come from Catholics in the United States.
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