Pope changes law on women

VATICAN CITY: Pope Francis, in another step towards greater equality for women in the Roman Catholic Church, yesterday changed its law to formally codify their roles as altar servers, distributors of Communion and readers at liturgies.

The pope’s decree formalised practices already common in many countries, but the change in the Code of Canon Law means conservative bishops will not be able to block women in their dioceses from taking those roles.

The Vatican stressed the roles were ‘‘essentially distinct from the ordained ministry’’, and so not an automatic precursor to women one day being allowed to become priests.

‘‘This codifies that women are equal to men in these roles and is big because in some cultures women are still considered unclean and cannot be near the sacred,’’ Phyllis Zagano, religion professor at Hofstra University in New York State and past member of a papal commission on female deacons, said.

In the decree, called ‘‘Spiritus Domini’’ (The Spirit of the Lord), Francis said he had acted after theological reflection. — Reuters