Archbishop Ladaria: "In my opinion, at this moment the Pope wants to make an objective study, not to come to a decision, but to study how things were in the early times of the Church. This study doesn’t pretend to have an ecumenical scope. The desire is to give the Holy Father some elements of judgment and nothing more. The Pope has said that “this aspect should be studied, especially in the early times of the Church.” It must be a serene reflection without pressures and without the urgency to come to a decision in a short time." (Archbishop Francisco Ladaria Ferrer, Secretary of the Congregation of the Doctrine of the Faith, Chair of Committee on Women Deacons.)

As the ball is kicked into the long grass .....