Interview with Luke Hansen, SJ on Women Deacons
My prayer for them is that they are discerning. I hope they don’t look at historical practice as rigidly dictating what we can or cannot do today. Discernment would mean that alongside crucial historical and theological evidence, there will be serious consideration of the pastoral needs of people in the Church today. This means that a range of voices will be heard. I pray that the members will leave room for the Holy Spirit — through their prayer, reflection and conversation. We have to be willing to listen to the Spirit.
Pope Francis keeps telling us that our Church needs to evangelize — that we always need to reach more people. These women are well prepared to serve in the diaconate, and I wonder how many more people the Church could reach if these women were ordained as deacons.