Number 10 The Perceptions of U.S. Bishops and Deacon Directors Regarding the Work of the Papal Commission of Study on the Diaconate of Women Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate Georgetown University Washington, D.C. The Perceptions of U.S. Bishops and Deacon Directors Regarding the Work of the Papal Commission of Study on the Diaconate of Women January 2019 Michal J. Kramarek, Ph.D. Thomas P. Gaunt, SJ, Ph.D. © CARA, January 2019, Working Paper 10 CARA was founded by Catholic leaders in 1964 to put social science research tools at the service of the Catholic Church in the United States. For information on CARA and its mission of research, analysis, and planning, contact: Thomas P. Gaunt, SJ, Ph.D. Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate Georgetown University Washington, DC 20057-1203 202-687-08395
[email protected] For information about the content of this working paper contact: Michal J. Kramarek, Ph.D. CARA Research Associate Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate Georgetown University Washington, DC 20057-1203 202-687-0885
[email protected] CARA.georgetown.edu Introduction In 2016, at the request of representatives of the International Union of Superiors General (the Vatican sanctioned representatives of Religious Institutes), Pope Francis established a Papal Commission of Study on the Diaconate of Women. The Commission was tasked to review the theology and history of the office of deacon in the Roman Catholic Church and the question of whether women might be allowed to become deacons. The Commission has been meeting during the past two years. This past year, 2018, marks the 50th anniversary of the restoration of the permanent diaconate in the United States.