Pope formalizes women’s roles, but priesthood stays out of reach

Pope Francis has changed the laws of the Roman Catholic Church to formally allow women to give readings from the Bible during Mass, act as altar servers and distribute Communion, but they remain barred from becoming deacons or priests.

In many countries, Catholic women were already carrying out those duties, which are officially reserved for men, but by amending the Code of Canon Law, which lays down the rules of Catholic practices, Francis has removed the possibility that conservative bishops might prohibit women from acceding to these positions.

In a letter accompanying the decree, Francis said he wanted to recognize the “precious contribution” that women made to the church, as well as that of laypeople.

But the decree, which Francis signed Sunday and the Vatican issued Monday, also makes a distinction between “ordained” ministries — including the priesthood and the diaconate, which are reserved for men — and other ministries open to baptized men and women.

In an online note published by Vatican News, an online portal, the Vatican said the pope wanted to make clear that “what is under discussion are lay ministries, ‘fundamentally distinct from the ordained ministry that is received through the sacrament of holy orders.’ ”

The decree in itself “is not a radical shift,” said Kate McElwee, executive

director of the Women’s Ordination Conference, which fights for gender equality in the church, including the right for women to become priests. “But the church recognizing widely accepted practices by Catholics around the world and taking the steps to be more inclusive is a radical thing.”

The change probably will not affect many Catholics, especially in developed countries, where women have been serving in these roles for years, she said. “But in communities that use church practice and the way that they treat women as a way to discriminate or defend oppressive practices in society, this could be a step — albeit small — toward greater equality for women.”

The church hierarchy, including Pope Francis, has made it clear in recent decades that ordaining women as priests is not on the table.

ALESSANDRA TARANTINO AP, file 2020 Pope Francis has amended the Roman Catholic Church’s laws so that women may be Bible readers at Mass, serve at the altar and distribute Communion— practices already common in many countries.