Pope Francis advisor sees the barrier to female ordination as a "cultural problem"
Last bastion of gender differences
Is the desire to preserve male uniqueness the reason for the rejection of women deacons in the Catholic Church? It could be, says an Italian theologian who has advised Pope Francis on the issue of women's roles.
Theologian and Papal advisor Linda Pocher sees the renewed delay in the decision on the ordination of women in the Catholic Church as a cultural problem. "As long as there is something that women cannot do, male uniqueness will be preserved," the nun said in an interview with the Italian daily newspaper "La Repubblica" on Friday. The reluctance to ordain women is seen as the last bastion of gender inequality.
A study commission on the diaconate for women, appointed by Pope Francis, presented its final report on Thursday. In it, the commission declares the question of women's ordination as deacons "open to further theological and pastoral exploration." The decision must be made at the level of the Magisterium, the report states, addressing the current Pope Leo XIV.
Only male priests because Jesus was a man?
The report also documented voting results on certain theses. Pocher finds the commission's transparency through its full publication remarkable. This publication reveals that the dogmatic thesis, according to which only men could be ordained in the Catholic Church simply because Jesus Christ was a man, did not receive a majority. The vote was five to five.
The Italian theologian sees no compelling theological reason for rejecting the ordination of women in the thesis also held by Pope John Paul II (1978-2005). "Jesus was also Jewish; must the one who represents him also be Jewish?" Pocher asked. "These arguments arise when women demand positions that are normally reserved for men."
No further clarity
No definitive end. Pocher does not see the presented report as bringing about a definitive end to the question of women deacons. This is not how doctrinal development works in the Catholic Church, the nun stated. "In my opinion, it is neither a step forward nor a step back, but there is more clarity about what is at stake."
Pocher is an expert on the question of women in the Catholic Church. At the request of Pope Francis (2013-2025), the nun organized a lecture series on the role of women in the Catholic Church. She addressed her remarks to the closest advisory body of the Pope, who died in April, the Council of Cardinals. Among those who spoke at the events was an Anglican bishop.
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