Female Ordination as a National Option - Modernist plan to divide the Catholic Church from top to bottom and side to side

And I will give to thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven. And whatsoever thou shalt bind upon earth, it shall be bound also in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose upon earth, it shall be loosed also in heaven

Et tibi dabo claves regni caelorum. Et quodcumque ligaveris super terram, erit ligatum et in caelis : et quodcumque solveris super terram, erit solutum et in caelis. [Matthew 16:19]

But a modernist theologian asks, "Who has the authority to decide what God thinks?"

Doctoral scholar Dorothea Sattler doesn't believe there will be female deacons anytime soon. She hopes for decentralized solutions. Nevertheless, women in other churches who already hold office are "proof of the meaningfulness of such a divine calling," says Sattler.

The World Synod was held several months ago – the topic of women in the Catholic Church was also discussed there. How do you view the question of women in church offices?

Dorothea Sattler*: The topic has been raised very frequently, as is widely reported, including in discussions during breaks. People demanded to hear their arguments. This is a reason to be grateful. The obstacles to even being heard on this topic in the context of the universal church were considerable.

At the World Synod in October 2023, participants sat around round tables. Are you satisfied with the results of the World Synod on the question of women?

Sattler: I can't answer this question with a yes or no. No, it is disappointing on a formal level that it wasn't possible to gain more clarity about the composition of the commission convened by the Pope to address the issue of the "Diaconate of Women." I am also disappointed from a substantive perspective that the founding text of Forum III of the Synodal Path is no longer respected at the universal church level in Germany. I don't understand why, in a world church, the theological expertise of a particular church is not at least given the appreciation it deserves. At the same time, I say: Yes, I am satisfied that, at least with regard to women's participation in the sacramental diaconate, no red line has been drawn. The question remains open – this concession has been reached.

"The special thing about the office is to be a service to the service of all."

Do you have hope that the diaconate of women will be introduced soon?

Sattler: I don't know. Women who are currently preparing for the sacramental diaconate are, for good reasons, hoping for a decision soon. In my opinion, this issue will also be decided by the doctrinal authorities in the context of the fundamental question of the possibility of women sacramentally representing Christ in ministry. If this assessment is correct, the only possible outcome could soon be the commissioning of women to diaconal services outside of sacramental ordination. In my opinion, the discussion about women's participation in all sacramental ministries and offices will not lead to a result soon. Given the times, a decentralized solution would be desirable: trust in the theological arguments of individual local churches and freedom, under the responsibility of bishops' conferences worldwide, regarding the question of whether women will soon be ordained.

"There is not just a difference of degree, but an essential difference between all the baptized."

The Instrumentum Laboris for the 2023 World Synod addressed the question of the role of women with the question: "How can the Church of our time further its mission through greater recognition and promotion of the baptismal dignity of women?" Was that enough, in your opinion?

Sattler: The reference to the "common priesthood of all the baptized" in the sense of the Second Vatican Council is always fundamentally very important. At the same time, an important distinction must be remembered: sacramentally ordained persons serve the ministries of all the baptized. There is not only a difference of degree, but an essential (ontological) difference between all the baptized and those officially called to ensure that charisms are discovered, people are encouraged, and conflicts are resolved. The special thing about ministry is that it is a service to the ministries of all.

In your book "Women in Ministry." A Path to the Renewal of the Church," you write: "The claim of men's sole interpretive authority in the allocation of offices based on their knowledge of Trinitarian relationships is scandalous from a theological perspective." In what way?

Sattler: I am concerned to question whether it is certain what God specifically wants with regard to our topic. New Testament exegesis has long stated that Jesus probably had no clear ideas about the form of the later Church, especially with regard to its ministry structure. Who has the authority to decide what God thinks? Mustn't we all assume that God wants the Gospel to be proclaimed today with all the forces called to it?

What role can ecumenism play with regard to the Roman Catholic doctrine of ministries?

Sattler: Knowledge of the respective denominational paths – which are also very conflict-ridden in other traditions – is sufficient, late in the history of Christianity, to achieve an opening towards the ordination of women. This strengthens one's own efforts – patience and consistently sound argumentation lead to the goal. At the same time, the women who are already serving in the ecumenical movement are proof of the meaningfulness of such a divine calling.

What possibilities and opportunities do you see for the Church if women are allowed to work sacramentally and priestly just like men?

Sattler: There are characteristics that are attributed to women – perhaps they exist – and if so, they were learned in social contexts: being able to listen; being mindful of life at risk at the beginning and end of existence; striving for reconciliation; connecting and remembering. For good reasons, we have reservations today about such stereotyping when describing gender differences. At the same time, the question arises whether men, women, and people of all genders who possess such qualities shouldn't be highly desirable in priestly ministry today. In Europe, we are increasingly experiencing situations in which the Christian faith is no longer plausible. We urgently need forms of communication about existentially significant life issues. Women are well-versed in organizing worship services in which people speak to one another and symbolic actions have a lasting impact.

*Dorothea Sattler is Professor of Ecumenical Theology and Dogmatics and Director of the Ecumenical Institute of the Faculty of Catholic Theology at the University of Münster. She was heavily involved in the Synodal Path in Germany and co-chaired the Synodal Forum "Women in Services and Offices in the Church." Her book "Women in Office: A Path to the Renewal of the Church" was published by Herder Verlag.

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