Cardinal Kasper Lobbies for Women’s Diaconate

The German Cardinal Walter Kasper advocates for a women’s diaconate in the Catholic Church – and believes further reforms are necessary. “In my personal opinion, opening the permanent diaconate to women has sound theological arguments and would be a sensible pastoral step,” the 92-year-old writes in his autobiography.

“Women and men have equal dignity before God and must therefore be recognized with their own charisms,” Kasper said. In this regard, he added, much has been achieved in recent decades, but much remains to be done. The book “On the Trail of Truth” will be published by Herder Verlag on June 10.

Initiatives by reform-minded Catholics, several Catholic women’s associations, and numerous submissions to the recent worldwide synodal process are in favor of introducing the diaconate for women; some advocate for opening all services and offices in the Catholic Church to women. Until now, the offices of deacon, priest, and bishop, conferred by ordination, have been reserved for men. Deacons may baptize, marry, conduct funerals, and preach, but not preside over Mass. Only priests may do that.

The position of women in the Catholic Church has now “become a mega-issue,” emphasizes the Rome-based cardinal and former bishop of Rottenburg-Stuttgart. There are “many offices in the Church with leadership responsibility that do not require sacramental authorization, to which women can also be entrusted,” Kasper said.

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