As Pope Francis seeks to include more women in key church leadership positions, a Catholic social worker has been named to a pioneering post for women in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia -- and a number of women have inspired that historic journey,
VATICAN CITY (CNS) — With the input of two women and a priest, Pope Francis and members of his international Council of Cardinals discussed the role of women in the Catholic Church. “The council agreed on the need to listen, also and
A reader asks: “I was speaking to a friend of mine and the subject of women deaconesses came up. He says we never had deaconesses in the Church. I disagree. He is a good friend, but I think he is misinformed.” However,
Asking pardon for speaking plainly, Pope Francis told members of the International Theological Commission that "one of the great sins we have had is 'masculinizing' the church," which also can be seen by the fact that only five of the commission members
WUERZBURG, Germany (OSV News) -- Tensions between Rome and the majority of German bishops are again intensifying with Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Vatican secretary of state informing the German bishops in an official note that the ordination of men to the priesthood and
A newly published book offers insights into Pope Francis' views on various issues, including whether or not women can be ordained deacons.
The book, originally written in Spanish and recently translated into Italian is titled in English, Pope Francis the Pastor, Disaffections, Reasons
The life of women in the Catholic Church "is full of scars" and alternating experiences of being encouraged or rejected, the president of Latin America's religious superiors told members of the assembly of the Synod of Bishops.
But the most obvious and defining
As the Synod on Synodality opens Oct. 4 in Rome, among the most closely watched topics under discussion is the question of whether the Catholic Church can or will extend the permanent diaconate -- restored after the Second Vatican Council -- to
A group of nearly 50 Catholic women health professionals signed an open letter emphasizing the dignity of human life, in response to an open letter by Faith in Public Life, signed by 34 scholars, theologians, and advocates, which called for new conversations
At least three dozen women will be voting members of the assembly of the Synod of Bishops in October, Pope Francis has decided. In a decision formalized April 17, "the Holy Father approved the extension of participation in the synodal assembly to