There are over 47,000 permanent deacons, all men, most married, in the Roman Catholic Church today.The issue of women deacons was raised at the Second Vatican Council, only to die a quick death.
However in 2019, at the Amazon Synod, 9 out of 12 language groups asked for woman deacons and Pope Francis responded, "If the gauntlet has been thrown down I will pick it up."
Dr Phyllis Zagano is Professor of Religion at Hofstra University in New York. She explains to Pat Coyle of Irish Jesuit Communications what Pope Francis has been doing in regard to the issue. And she outlines the obstacles (or lack of them) in actually progressing the ordination of women as deacons.
