Deacons, millennials part of bishops' conversation at women's conference

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Dr. Kimberly Baker of St. Meinrad Seminary moderates the conversation with Archbishop Joseph Tobin, CSsrR, of Indianpolis (center) and Bishop Charles Thompson of Evansville, Indiana (right).

Heidi Schlumpf | Oct. 8, 2016

All the major speakers at "Women of the Church: A Catholic Leadership Conference" this weekend were women -- except for two. Archbishop Joseph Tobin, CSsR, of Indianapolis and Bishop Charles Thompson of Evansville, Ind., were part of a moderated conversation during the three-day conference in southern Indiana.

Answering questions from attendees that had been collected in advance, the bishops expressed support for women deacons, the possibility for women preaching and a desire to dialogue with younger "millennial" women.

"I'm hopeful," said Tobin about the possibility of women deacons. As co-chair of the North American Orthodox Catholic Theological Consultation, Tobin said he was encouraged by the fact that the Orthodox recognize the tradition of women deacons.

Thompson, a canon lawyer, noted that the Canon Law Society of America released a document supporting women deacons in 1995.

https://www.ncronline.org/blogs/ncr-today/deacons-millennials-part-bishops-conversation-womens-conference