The tremendous growth of the permanent order of the deacon in the Catholic church carries with it lingering and inevitable questions about women deacons. The church's evident need for more women in ministry demands careful exploration and evaluation of the historical roots, contemporary ecclesial realities and creative future possibilities for including women in the diaconate.

In these three original essays by experts on the diaconate, Gary Macy, William T Ditewig and Phyllis Zagano evaluate the question of women deacons from historical, contemporary and future perspectives in conversation with one another and with the whole church. The result is essential reading for all who are interested in ecclesiology and in questions of women in ministry, as well as for deacons and deacon directors.

Gary Macy, Phd, is the John Nobili, SJ, Professor of Theology at Santa Clara University. Deacon William T. Ditewig, PhD, is director of lay and deacon formation in the Diocese of Monterey in California and former executive director of the Secretariat for the Diaconate of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops in Washington, DC. Phyllis Zagano, PhD, is senior research associate-in-residence and adjunct professor of religion at Hofstra University.


This is a book that will get people thinking - and talking. After all the debate about ordaining women as Catholic priests, here at last is a timely and trenchant analysis of something even the pope hasn't dismissed: ordaining women as deacons. Forget everything you know, or think you know, about this hot-button issue. Women Deacons breaks ground, shatters misconceptions, and adds immeasurably to the ongoing discussion about women in the church. Deacon Greg Kandra blogger and veteran broadcast journalist