Pope Francis’ recent amendment to Canon Law allowing women to be instituted as lectors and acolytes has caused more media attention than church action. In most American dioceses, formal installment of these ministries has not been common. And since it’s only been open to men in the past, the extent to which women will pursue this accreditation will remain to be seen.  

Despite the Pope’s decision to institute women as lectors, most dioceses won’t likely be taking immediate action anytime soon. The pope’s allowance doesn’t mean mandate and nobody knows right now how many bishops will take advantage of it.

To whatever extent we see instituted women lectors on the ambo in the future, there will still be the usual Catholic traditionalists crusading for scripture-grounded practices of men-only ministries as in 1 Timothy 2:11-12 . . .

A woman must receive instruction silently and under complete control. I do not permit a woman to teach or to have authority over a man.* She must be quiet.
 

It is Pope Francis’ hope, however, that opening these lay ministries to women might “better manifest the common baptismal dignity of the members of the People of God.”
 

To hear more priests praise both male and female roles from the pulpit would be quite refreshing as well. Women have been serving as non-instituted lectors for decades. Most feel honored to serve and put their best efforts into it. And many do a far better job than the men.
 

The reason lector rosters in many churches are dominated by women is because not enough men will step up and volunteer. There are plenty of men, but never enough giving and willing men. The inclination to serve should stem from being spiritual leaders in their homes and workplaces; and if it doesn’t exist there, the last thing they should be doing is proclaiming God’s word to willing listeners from the ambo.

We have many worldly men in our church today. They have no problem displaying their masculinity out in the marketplace or the clubhouse, but within the multitude of Catholic ministries there’s a serious lack of it.

When we comment how much women are running our churches today, who can disagree?

When it comes to our own suitability for the ministry of lector, the real measure is in how well we connect with and touch the hearts of our listeners; and how well we allow them to hear and savor God’s word through us without being distracted by us whether we are instituted or non-instituted, man or woman, tall or short, young or old.

Whatever our status or position as a lector, this discernment exercise is a good place to regularly check ourselves against.