Bishops seek greater role for women

The Tablet (UK)
March 1, 2013

The German bishops last week devoted a day of their three-day plenary to the question of how they can promote the role of women in the Church.

Participants in the discussion concluded it was imperative to boost the role of women, especially in the Church's decision-making bodies.

Cardinal Karl Lehmann of Mainz called for a "convincing job profile for women that also requires a sacramental blessing and a liturgical ceremony for a binding commitment".

The former president of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity, Cardinal Walter Kasper, suggested creating a new diaconal office for women.

Women could be officially appointed to pastoral, caritative, catechetical and certain liturgical services at a special "Benediction", as abbesses used to be, he said and could then participate in synods, pastoral councils and commissions.

He said such changes "would do the Roman curia good".