April 13, 2015
NCR columnist Phyllis Zagano will speak in Limerick, Ireland, Thursday evening (April 16) on her academic specialty, the restoration of women to the ordained diaconate in the Catholic Churches. Her lecture will be at Mary Immaculate College, where she was a Fulbright Fellow in 2009.
Ireland has very few permanent deacons -- the Diocese of Killaloe cancelled plans to open diaconal training when women lay ecclesial ministers complained that a male-only diaconate would install an unnecessary clerical layer between them and the parish priest -- but other bishops have ordained and are training male deacons, citing a greater need for clergy.
The event, at 7:30 p.m., is partially funded by the Irish Fulbright Commission.
