Catholic Church’s vote on women passes after faultlines exposed

The Australian Catholic Church has affirmed its willingness to allow women to serve in the ministry after the nation’s bishops agreed to explore “new opportunities” for women.

Plenary Council president Archbishop Timothy Costelloe said the church was in the process of working out “God’s plan in relation to women”. Picture: Fiona Basile

The Australian Catholic Church has affirmed its willingness to allow women to serve in the ministry as deacons after the nation’s bishops agreed to explore “new opportunities” for women, amid a fierce internal rift over their role in the church.

The church’s fifth plenary council, a powerful decision-making event that took place in Sydney last week, was plunged into chaos after two motions elevating women’s role in the church failed, prompting organisers to suspend proceedings.

The vote, which saw the motion to support the elevation of women to become deacons with the Vatican’s approval fall short of a qualified majority on Wednesday, prompted a silent protest of about 60 participants who refused to take their seats.

A reworked version of the motion was passed on Friday when the council voted overwhelmingly to create “new opportunities for women to participate in ministries that engage with the most important aspects of diocesan and parish life”.

It also passed a motion – with the support of 37 bishops out of 43 – affirming that women should be able to become deacons if the “universal law of the church be modified”.

Plenary council vice president Shane Mackinlay said that last week’s events – which also saw a motion to ensure women are “appropriately represented in decision-making structures” pass – had made an “appalling” impression but also marked a significant milestone for the Catholic Church.

“It is historic. I’m still digesting the significance of it,” he said.

“There was an enormous mood of celebration, but it should be acknowledged people still feel very bruised and hurt by what happened but at the same time heard and valued.”

Australian Catholic University’s Xavier Centre for Theological Formation director Maeve Louise Heaney said the events of the meeting had made for a “tough week”. “I am hopeful it will mark a before and after for the church in Australia, but I also pray this will be so,” she said.

Plenary Council president Archbishop Timothy Costelloe said the church was in the process of working out “God’s plan in relation to women”, acknowledging the division the failed vote had caused when he addressed the council shortly on Wednesday.

“There is a long way for the church to go in the understanding of the proper role of women in the life of the church,” he said.

Pope Francis has launched a commission into whether women should be able to become deacons.