In the catholic church?

Question

can a woman be a deacon?

Answer 1

Yes in the Anglican Catholic church, both men and women can be deacons. In the Roman Catholic Church, women cannot receive Holy Orders. Therefore, they cannot become deacons.
Hope this helps.

Whoever is thumbs downing me may want to study Anglican Catholic Churches first.

Answer 2

NO.

Jesus did not choose women to be apostles, and while the Deaconness Phoebe is mentioned- she is only mentioned ONCE- then no more...

If there were deaconnesses in the early church, it was due to modesty- they would have baptised the women.

Answer 3

No, a deacon receives the first set of Holy Orders from a bishop. Only men are able to receive the sacrament of Holy Orders.

Answer 4

No.

The Catholic Church currently teaches:

The Lord Jesus chose men to form the college of the twelve apostles, and the apostles did the same when they chose collaborators to succeed them in their ministry.

The Church recognizes herself to be bound by this choice made by the Lord himself. For this reason the ordination of women (as deacons, priests, or bishops) is not possible.

For more information see the Catechism of the Catholic Church, sections 1577: http://www.usccb.org/catechism/text/pt2sect2chpt3.htm#1577

With love in Christ.

Answer 5

Not in the Roman Catholic Tradition.

Answer 6

No, but there are many ways to serve the poor and God.

Answer 7

In most See's and to my knowledge, no they can not.

Answer 8

no only men

Answer 9

No, only men can.

Answer 10

There was a similar question that was asked to be some time ago, which was, “I think female “ministers” are a joke?” what do you think of female ministers.” Here was how I explained my answer for that question. This should be of benefit to you in terms of where women stand when it comes to teaching a particular congregation.

This question required me to dig deeper and research this area. This is an often controversial topic among members of particular religions and congregations. The reason for such controversy is because religions today are not adhering to Bible principles. Some religious leaders have their own imperfect reasoning as to why women are kept from the pulpit. Hopefully, the content below will shed much light (from the scriptures) as to whether or not women belong in the pulpit, or, should be teaching the congregation.

The issue of women as clergy and other positions of teaching has become a wedge between members of the same religion. This tension would not be such if Bible principles were applied, as you will read about later on. The Church of England could easily split into two separate institutions over the issue, warns Dr. Graham Leonard, Bishop of London, the leading cleric opposing ordination of women. Some people blame prejudice for keeping women out of the pulpit, but more is involved.

For decades, the Church of England has been trying to reconcile its differences with Rome. But in a recent letter to the Archbishop of Canterbury, the pope said that any admission of women to the priesthood would constitute “in the eyes of the Catholic Church, an increasingly serious obstacle to that progress.”

One important element, though, has been left out of this debate—the Bible. How did women serve in the early Christian congregation, and what should be their role today?

At the birth of the Christian congregation in the year 33 C.E., women along with men were recipients of holy spirit. This is exactly as the prophet Joel had foretold centuries earlier, the apostle Peter explained. (Acts 1:13-15; 2:1-4, 13-18)

Later, Peter came to full realization of another important fact: “God is not partial.” (Acts 10:34) Literally, that scripture means that God is not a “taker of faces.” A “taker of faces” shows recognition and preference for another person. In ancient times, many a judge would favor the wealthy over the poor. Or verdicts would be handed down based on nationality, social rank, family, or friendship rather than on the facts. But Jehovah does the opposite. He favors only those who fear him and work righteousness. Not putting women as inferior to men. When it comes to salvation, God does not esteem a man’s ‘face’ over a woman’s ‘face.’ Both are on an equal footing with him. (Acts 10:35)

Therefore, the Scriptures afford Christian men and women an equal measure of honor as members of the congregation. The apostle Paul writes to Christians in Galatia that “there is neither slave nor freeman, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one person in union with Christ Jesus.” All have an independent spiritual standing before God; yet all are united as a body of his servants. All are alike in God’s household. (Galatians 3:26-28)

Nevertheless, there are differences between men and women in the congregation. But just as natural differences between a man and a woman are no obstacle to their complementing each other, so the different privileges that men and women enjoy within the Christian congregation should not be an obstacle to the congregation’s harmony. What are those differences?

The differences center on teaching and authority. Women are barred from serving in an official teaching capacity in the congregation and from exercising spiritual authority over fellow congregation members. In his pastoral letter to Timothy, Paul plainly states: “I do not permit a woman to teach, or to exercise authority over a man, but to be in silence.” (1 Timothy 2:12) There it is in black and white. This scripture wipes out all of those pointless debates shared by those religious leaders you read about earlier.

Paul next points to the basis for not allowing women to be teachers—a divinely appointed relationship between man and woman. “For Adam was formed first, then Eve,” he writes. (1 Timothy 2:13) A straightforward scripture. God could have created Adam and Eve at the same moment, but he did not. Adam existed for some time before Eve. Does this not reveal God’s purpose for Adam to direct, to be the head, rather than Eve?

1 Corinthians 11:3: “But I want YOU to know that the head of every man is the Christ; in turn the head of a woman is the man; in turn the head of the Christ is God.” The headship principle is clearly stated here. Everyone has a head, except for Jehovah God.

And to teach is, in effect, to act as a master, or head, over those taught. Those taught listen and quietly learn. Thus, in the congregation only men are to be teachers and overseers.

Need the fact that women do not teach in the congregation cause frustration and resentment? Not if Bible principles are applied. Women are free to teach Christian doctrine and are invited to do so. In what context and under what circumstances? Older women can be “teachers of what is good” to the younger women. And just as Eunice and her mother Lois instructed Timothy, so Christian women still follow their example in training children in “The Way” of the truth. (Titus 2:3-5; Acts 9:2; 2 Timothy 1:5)

Today, Christian women also follow the examples of Euodia and Syntyche by preaching the good news publicly. (Philippians 4:2, 3) They can be teachers by conducting Bible studies with interested people. (Matthew 28:20) Hundreds of thousands of women find spiritual fulfillment in this urgent work of preaching and teaching. They point others to the establishment of a world of righteousness and peace under the reign of Jesus Christ—a hope they share equally with their Christian brothers. (Psalm 37:10, 11)

Psalm 68:11: “Jehovah himself gives the saying; The women telling the good news are a large army.” Yes, there are more women than men sharing in preaching the good news worldwide. This preaching work was the same work that Jesus engaged in during his life while on earth. This is indeed the most important work that anyone can engage in, and tell people about God’s Kingdom.

Instead of religious leaders arguing over why women are kept off the pulpit and not teaching a congregation and wasting time, they should be more worried about preaching and teaching the good news to their neighbors and friends and other whom they should love. Fruitless arguments like this are all about power and control over a group of people instead of applying Bible principles. However, in order to preach the good news, they would have to have Jehovah’s holy spirit, or active force in doing so. Yet, they do not have Jehovah’s holy spirit because their lives are not in harmony with God’s.

In reference to your question you raised, female ministers are a joke because the scriptures plainly state that a woman are not permitted (or not allowed) to teach, but to sit in silence. Those female ministers (if smart) should recognize that they are breaking Bible principles. Better yet, they are going against God’s inspired Word. Then they have the audacity to talk about how much they love God and Jesus and how everyone should worship God and Jesus but cannot adhere to the principles set forth in the Holy Scriptures. In reality, they are hypocrites.


Sources:

New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures

July 8, 1987 AWAKE! Magazine
Published by Jehovah’s Witnesses
Title: “The Bible’s Viewpoint – Do Women Belong in the Pulpit?
Pages 22, 23