Pope OKs new roles, but not priesthood, for women

ROME — Pope Francis has changed church law to explicitly allow women to do more things during Mass, while reaffirming they cannot be priests.

Francis amended the law to formalize what is common practice in many parts of the world: that women can read the Gospel and serve on the altar as eucharistic ministers. Previously, such roles were officially reserved to men even though exceptions were made.

Francis (photo) said he was making m the change to increase re ecognition of the “precious co ontribution” women make in th he church, while emphasizing th hat all baptized Catholics have a role to play in the church’s mission. m

But he also noted that doing so o further makes a distinction b etween “ordained” ministries su uch as the priesthood, and ministries m open to qualified laity. The T Vatican reserves the priesthood h for men.

The change comes as Francis re emains under pressure to allow women w to be deacons — ord ained ministers who perform many m of the same functions as s priests, such as presiding at weddings, w Baptisms and funerals.l Currently, the ministry is reserved for men.

Francis has created a second study commission of experts to study whether women could be deacons, after a first one failed to reach a consensus.

Advocates for expanding the diaconate to include women say doing so would give women greater say in the ministry and governance of the church, while also helping address priest shortages in several parts of the world.

Opponents say allowing it would become a slippery slope toward ordaining women to the priesthood.