A good day for the Church

Editorial Staff

Some months ago I read in an Italian newspaper that “Pope Francis admits women to ministries of lector and acolyte”. What does it means? And what will change in our parishes and in our communities? Is this a first step to female priesthood and diaconate?

C.A.

The ministries of lector and acolyte in the liturgy have been entrusted to men and women for a long time. They are also two steps that must be taken before anyone is promoted to the diaconate and to the ordination to priesthood. These two ministries have been permanently assigned only to men for a long time. In the motu proprio “Spiritus Domini,” issued on Jan. 11, the Pope changed canon 230 of the Code of Canon Law admitting women to these two ministries in a stable form. The Pope wanted to formalise and institutionalize the presence of women to the altar but priesthood remains out of reach. A special commission is still studying the question of the diaconate for women. Certainly the Church has taken another step toward a more inclusive dimension. Maybe after this one there will be another surprise... In this regard we read the commentary of the theologian Cristina Simonelli: “By changing the canon 230 of the Code of Canon Law the Pope writes ‘Lay persons who possess the age and qualifications established by decree of the conference of bishops can be admitted on a stable basis through the prescribed liturgical rite to the ministries of lector and acolyte’. The specification ‘lay men’ qualifying the laity and present in the Code until today’s modification, is, therefore, abolished. This underlines the role of women and their commitment in the Church. It is a good day for the Church. It is an act of justice that we welcome without naivety and it keeps questions open on its meaning, on its methods and motivations”.