Pope, Amendments To The Code Of Canon Law And Gender Equality

Illustration. (Alex Flguera / Unsplash)

JAKARTA - Pope Francis continues his breakthroughs related to gender equality, in this case the recognition and space for the existence of women within the Roman Catholic Church.

This was marked by the Pope's announcement to allow women to serve congregations in the church as liturgical readers, altarers and fellowship distributors.

The decree, called 'Spiritus Domini', emphasized that this role is separate from the priesthood which is all held by men. Nor is it automatically as a precursor to the possibility of women being ordained as priests.

The Pope also acknowledged that so far women have made great contributions to the church. Therefore, with this amendment to the Code of Canon Law, conservative bishops can no longer prevent women from taking important roles in the diocese.

Pope Francis. (Ashwin Vaswani / Unsplash)

In issuing this decree, the Pope admitted that he had previously carried out theological reflection. He also acknowledged that many bishops from around the world said that this change was needed to answer the challenges and needs of the times.

Female official

In the letter accompanying the decree, the Pope said he wanted to bring "stability to public recognition" of the roles that women have already played.

"This shift is bringing the institutional Church into tune with pastoral realities around the world," said Kate McElwee's Women's Ordination Conference executive director, who is vigorously promoting the women's priesthood.

Previously, Pope Francis appointed a number of female officials last year. For example, when the Pope gave six of the seven positions in the Vatican Economic Council to women in August 2020. They were chosen because they have economic and financial backgrounds.

Illustration. (Barbara Provenzano / Unsplash)

Those appointed were Charlotte Kreuter-Kirchhof and Marija Kolak (Germany), Eva Castollo Sanz and Maria Concepcion Osakar Garaicoechea (Spain) and Leslie Jane Ferrar and Ruth Maria Kelly (England).

The Pope has also appointed women deputy foreign minister, director of the Vatican Museum, deputy head of the Vatican Press Office and four women as members of the council of the Synod of Bishops.

Not stopping there, the Pope also formed a commission to study the history of female deacons in the early centuries of the Catholic Church. This is expected by women deaconate supporters to be able to lead women pastors.

Like priests, deacons are ordained as ministers and as in the priesthood, those who are currently in the church must be men. They may not celebrate Mass, but they can preach, teach on behalf of the Church, baptize and bless weddings, birth and funeral services and even run parishes with the permission of a bishop.