Another clerical layer keeps women out

Dear Editor, Fair play to the women of the Killaloe diocese who are standing up in opposition to the permanent diaconate. (Diaconate sparks discrimination row in Killaloe’, IC 4/9/2014).

The International Theological Commission in Rome under the then-Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger left the question of female deacons open, yet the Church in Ireland – having ignored the initiative after Vatican II – is now pushing ahead with another clerical layer designed to keep women out, based on nothing other than the fact that the Church is running out of priests.

Yours etc.,

Mary Daly,

Navan,

Co. Meath.