Bishops call for bigger role for women in Bible reading
VATICAN CITY (AFP) — Roman Catholic bishops on Saturday called for women to be given a bigger role in reading from the Bible at religious ceremonies.
Bishops attending a synod at the Vatican said in a document that it was "to be wished that the ministry of the 'reading' also be open to women so that the Christian community recognise their role in the announcing of the word."
The aim was to encourage "the service of lay people in the transmission of the faith," said the synod, which began its work on October 5.
In practice women do read the Bible if asked but in a "temporary" way and not in the framework of an "official" ministry.
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