Ellie Hidalgo joins "Preach" host Ricardo da Silva, S.J., to explore St. Phoebe's diaconal ministry and its implications for ongoing debates around women's ordination to the diaconate.

Any decision requires some development in the church’s understanding of the tradition.

Women deacons have become the subject of a growing debate in the Catholic Church.

America Media has released a video explainer about the state of the women deacons question. It looks at the history of women deacons and raises the key theological questions in the debate.

“Theresa’s ministry was about truth-speaking,” Sister Susan Sanders said in a statement. “Truth-speaking about women’s desire for full inclusion in the Church; and truth-speaking to Church leaders like Pope John Paul II.”

A statue of Mary giving birth to Jesus was beheaded by an anonymous group of vandals, garnering support from traditionalist Catholics who have criticized the statue's depictions.