Parallel theological dialogue would seem appropriate. I should therefore like to examine the background against which dialogue would take place, and tentatively put forward a programme. It is evident that at present there is no consensus of opinion on the legitimacy of admitting women to ordained ministry. One of the requests in a joint declaration published in January 1990 of all Catholic women's organizations in Germany, Austria, South Tyrol and Switzerland is that 'the question of the ordination of women to the diaconate and the priesthood should cease to be a taboo subject'. The historical precedent for women deacons is irrefutable.
Many women call for change in church structures which are perceived as positively harmful.
Some bishops arrd priests agree with them without being able to say so publicly. Others are undecided and the picture is confused. However, there is no ambiguity or indecisiveness in the way the Church responds to a woman who feels called to ordained ministry. A German woman theologian of my acquaintance last summer asked a German cardinal to pray for women who wish to serve as ordained ministers and was told he would 'never commit that sin'. Catholics of an ultramontane cast of mind look to the Vatican for certainty.