WOC responds to Vatican’s latest “no” on women deacons

For Immediate Release: 4 December 2025

Today, the Vatican released a long-awaited report from the latest commission studying the possibility of women deacons in the Roman Catholic Church. The commission, meeting in secrecy since its establishment under Pope Francis, voted 7–1 against restoring women to the diaconate, urging that this position be “strongly maintained,” even as it called for yet more study. The report also reaffirmed the so-called “definitive judgment” against women’s priestly ordination.

For many years, the open question of women’s ordination to the diaconate has been a path of possibility for women. This particular topic animated much of the Vatican’s global discernment during the multi-year Synod on Synodality, with the call for women in ordained ministries coming through loudly from all continents, including from high-ranking Cardinals.

The Women’s Ordination Conference is appalled by the Vatican’s refusal to open its doors to women, even a crack. Make no mistake: this is a decision that will harm the global church. Few will have the patience to excavate hope from the Vatican’s claim there is “need for further study” on the question of women deacons. If further study were truly needed, this commission might have engaged more women in its efforts, and taken seriously the responses submitted by the People of God after a worldwide call for input. WOC also notes that only 8 members of a 10-member commission voted on this question, adding more doubt that this commission functioned with any deep consultation or courage to respond to the signs of the time.  

For centuries, women have served in the tradition of Phoebe (Rm 16:1). Women of every generation have experienced and expressed their vocation from God to serve the church in ordained ministry. Today, the diaconal, and priestly, work of women keeps the church functioning around the world.  

To then have the commission suggest, even by way of a vote on the statement, that “the masculinity of Christ, and therefore the masculinity of those who receive Holy Orders, is not accidental but is an integral part of sacramental identity, preserving the divine order of salvation in Christ,” is a deep, and theologically unsound, insult.

For many women, this will be the final straw.

Just days ago the Women’s Ordination Conference marked the opening of its 50th anniversary year with perseverance and hope. Today’s report from the Vatican reaffirms the urgency of our message. 

The next Women’s Ordination Conference will be in Detroit May 22-24, 2026, a time when we will continue charting a path toward true reform.

Contact: Kate McElwee, Executive Director

kmcelwee@womensordination.org