Time not ripe for women deacons says pope

(ANSA) - ROME, OCT 21 - The time is not ripe for women to be ordained as deacons in the Catholic Church, Pope Francis has said according to the head of the Vatican's doctrinal watchdog speaking Monday.
    The Pope has closed the door, "for the moment", to the ordination of women to the diaconate, the Prefect of the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith, Cardinal Victor Manuel Fernandez, told the Synod of Bishops.
    "The Pope has (said) that at this moment the question of the female diaconate is not ripe and has asked that we not dwell on this possibility," Fernandez told the members of the Synod.
    (ANSA).