The Portal February 2017 | Page 3

THE P RTAL
February 2017 Page 3

Women Deacons and the Ordinariates

A personal view from our Editors

As many of our readers will know , the Holy Father has set up a Study Group to look into the subject of Women Deacons . As far as We can gather , the following are the members of this group : Archbishop Luis Francisco Ladaria SJ , Secretary of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith , as its President and twelve members , six women and six men . Núria Calduch Benages , member of the Pontifical

Biblical Commission
Francesca Cocchini , faculty member at La Sapienza University ( Rome ) and the Patristic Institute Augustinianum
Piero Coda , president of Sophia University Institute ( Rome ), member of the International Theological Commission
Robert Dodaro OSA , president of the Patristic Institute Augustinianum
Santiago Madrigal SJ , ecclesiologist at the Pontifical University Comillas ( Madrid ) Mary Melone SFA , president of the Pontifical
University Antonianum ( Rome ) Karl-Heinz Menke , emeritus professor of dogmatic theology at the University of Bonn , member of the International Theological Commission Aimable Musoni SDB , ecclesiologist at Salesian
Pontifical University ( Rome )
Bernard Pottier SJ , faculty member at Institute d ’ Etudes Théologiques ( Brussels ), member of the International Theological Commission
Marianne Schlosser , theologian at the University of Vienna , member of the International Theological Commission ;
Michelina Tenace , theologian at the Pontifical Gregorian University ( Rome )
Phyllis Zagano , senior research associate-inresidence at Hofstra University ( New York )
The commission ’ s members appear divided in their views . We suppose one would expect that . At least they appear to be equally divided , and not weighted in a particular direction . What concerns me is that there are no ex-Anglicans on the Study Group . As with the discussion on marriage after divorce , those with direct experience of the question are excluded from the Study Group .
The Ordinariates are uniquely placed to contribute to this study of women deacons , yet are not represented . The three Ordinariates , in the UK , Australia and the USA , have a wealth of first-hand experience and
theological study of this subject at their finger tips . Why is it not being used ?
Those of us who have come into full communion with the Catholic Church from churches that have women deacons , have met some fine women in the order of deacons . Unfortunately , we have also met many who see their diaconate as merely the “ thin edge of the wedge ”, a stepping stone to the priesthood that is out of reach .
It is unfortunate that the Catholic Church ignores this wealth of knowledge and experience in the personnel of this important study group .
( Will Burton will be back next month )

The Personal Ordinariate of Our Lady of Walsingham THE ORDER OF MASS

Divine Worship : The Missal in accordance with the Roman Rite
Ordinariate Mass cards with the Order of Mass from
Divine Worship : The Missal are now available
Prices including UK delivery are :
£ 1 for a single copy , £ 3.50 for 10 , £ 14 for 50 , £ 26 for 100 , £ 48 for 200
Overseas enquiries : email mass . cards @ ordinariate . org . uk for postage costs
To order , please send your name and address with your cheque , made payable to Ordinariate OLW to :
Mass Cards , Ordinariate OLW , 24 Golden Square , London W1F 9JR