"Women deacons would be ‘sensible’ for synodal Church, says Kasper"

"Cardinal Walter Kasper, the former head of Vatican ecumenism efforts, said he now believes there are reasons to create a women’s diaconate because a synodal Church will need a more 'sibling-like' culture.

'In my personal opinion, opening the permanent diaconate to women has good theological arguments in its favor and would be a sensible pastoral step,' wrote the former president of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity in his autobiography, due to appear on 10 June.

'Women and men have the same dignity before God and must therefore be recognized with their own charisms,' the 92-year-old German cardinal wrote in Der Wahrheit auf der Spur (“On the Trail of Truth”).

'We will continue to need good bishops and priests in the future, but in a synodal Church, the era of clericalism and arbitrary decisions by bishops is over,' he continued. 'The laity want and should be heard, and they can also expect accountability from the bishops and priests.'"