Women Deacons?: Essays with Answers

The topic of reinstating women to the ordained diaconate emerged during the Second Vatican Council and has continued to be a subject of interest in both academic and pastoral discussions since the diaconate was reestablished as a permanent order in the Western Church. This collection features twelve essays—five translated from Italian, three from French, and four originally in English—that explore the historical background and potential future of women serving as deacons. Contributors include Yves Congar, OP; Philippe Delhaye; Peter Hunermann; Valerie A. Karras; Corrado Marucci, SJ; Pietro Sorci, OFM; Jennifer H. Stiefel; Cipriano Vagaggini, OSB; Cam Phyllis Zagano; and Ugo Zanetti, OSB. As John Baldovin, SJ, notes, this volume offers a comprehensive and well-researched examination of women’s diaconal ministry, presenting valuable insights for historians, theologians, and Church authorities.