The Irish Catholic spoke to women at St Michael The Archangel parish at the weekend, after a Vatican commission last week ruled out the possibility of ordaining women to the diaconate because it was part of “Holy Orders” reserved for men.
The decision was sharply criticised by some high profile Catholic women including former Irish President Mary McAleese – who claimed the Church as an institution was on its way to “self-inflicted oblivion.”
Monica Digney said she supported the Vatican’s decision, and insisted Catholics should be guided by the Pope.
She said Mary McAleese did not speak for her “or anyone I know.”
“I don’t think that Mary McAleese should be giving advice on a faith that I struggle with every day when she advocated very very strongly for the murder of the innocents. She wanted abortion in all of Ireland and I don’t think that someone like that has any God-given right to comment on my faith that I struggle with every single day of my life.
And I think the church really need to rethink who they have in these positions speaking because she does not speak on behalf of me or anyone that I know.”
Helen McCann took a similar view. “Mary McAleese is the last person I would be worried about. I know she had a bad experience growing up because some priest was really tough with her mom when her mom needed a hysterectomy and that is not the experience of people now and women have their own role in the Church and that should not be diminished.”
She said she had not met any women who wanted to be deacons adding more emphasis should be placed on the role of religious women. “The role of nuns and sisters has been totally overlooked since Vatican II and I think it is a really powerful vocation that needs to be looked into.”
But other women were in favour of women deacons and upset by the decision. One woman, waiting to attend a Christening in the church, said: “Why not? Women can do the job men do. I don’t see any difference between men and women. I just know a lot of people have turned against the church. Women should have their say.”
Joan Wolfe, who is very active in the parish, said women should be ordained to the diaconate. “I feel women should be having a part now in the Church especially now with the declining number of priests and we need all the help we can get and I don’t think God will be discriminating.”
Caroline McGyver also said the Vatican should rethink the decision. “I think there should be more equality and it should be considered given the lack of priests.”
I think it should be something that should be considered now.”
Geraldine Murray said she was “totally against” the Vatican’s decision. “There are women in this church who are so spiritual and who are so grounded in the Lord and they should be allowed to do that. We can bring Holy Communion to people and if we are allowed to bring the Lord, then why not stand and preach to people.”
But Ann Kelly said she believed women should be Eucharist ministers and readers but not deacons or priests. “There are loads of men coming forward now as deacons.”
Her niece Elaine, a parish team leader, agreed. “The Diaconate ministry falls within the line of ordination which Christ reserved for men only in his time on earth and the Church has discerned that it’s a unique calling like the priesthood for a man whom Christ himself calls. It’s not for all men, and just as only women can give birth to children so also the calling to serve through ordination is only for those men who God calls to it. As a woman I am not diminished by this decision, through baptism Christ has also given me a unique and fulfilling mission in the Church which I try everyday through thick and thin to follow!”
Colette Herald however was undecided. “I’m not sure about it. I would like to think about it a bit more.”
