human
What is the history of women's involvement in the Catholic Church?
assistant
The history of women's involvement in the Catholic Church dates back to the earliest days of the faith. In the 1st century, female deacons and leaders such as Saint Lydia of Thyatira and Saint Priscilla were active and respected members of the Church. Throughout the Middle Ages, women of the Church consistently served in orders such as the Benedictine, Franciscan and Carthusian, among others. During the Reformation, women's roles in the Church became more limited, even at the highest levels. Yet, by the end of the 20th century, women had broken through many of the barriers of the past and became increasingly involved in the Church. Today, women serve at all levels of the Church, as clergy, religious sisters and lay leaders.