Bishop Rudolf Voderholzer © Maria Irl (KNA)
Regensburg Bishop Rudolf Voderholzer has taken a stand in the debate over the diaconate of women. Accordingly, he thinks it is impossible for women to participate in the three-tiered ordained ministry of bishop, priest and deacon.
In a statement published Wednesday on his diocese's website, he recommended waiting for the results of the commission appointed by Pope Francis. He could not imagine, however, that this committee would come to different conclusions than the International Theological Commission of a few years ago.
Voderholzer explained that "deaconesses" in the sense of non-sacramentally ordained ministers existed in the early church. They would correspond today approximately to a "pastoral assistant" or nurse. A parish or pastoral minister, a theology professor, ordinariate councilor, director of a diocesan museum, an abbess or superior general of a women's order would have "incomparably greater responsibility and creative possibilities" than a "deaconess" in the historical sense.
"Women's federation should take care of more important objectives"
Bishop still considers it impossible for women to participate in the three-tiered ordination ministry of bishop, priest and deacon in the Catholic Church. He suggested to the Catholic German Women's Association (KDFB) that it should concern itself with "much more important and truly political objectives". For example, the Women's Federation should clearly position itself against the "gender mainstream," which has long since ceased to be about the legitimate concern for gender justice. He also said the federation has a role in fighting for better financial status for mothers and against sexual exploitation and trafficking in women.
The KDFB has been campaigning for a diaconate for women for two decades. Most recently, he was supported in this by Rottenburg Bishop Gebhard Furst. In the German Bishops' Conference, there are different interceptions on this matter.