Recovering the History of Catholic Deacons: Phyllis Zagano

In the wake of the Second Vatican Council, the Catholic Church has seen a resurgence in the role of deacons in worship and spiritual life. In the modern era, this is an office held exclusively by men. Our guest, Dr. Phyllis Zagano, has been a leading expert on the history of the diaconate, including the evidence that women deacons formed an ongoing and vital part of life in the early church.

We discuss her recent book, Women: Icons of Christ, as well as this fascinating (and sometimes contentious) history of deacons in the Catholic Church.

Phyllis Zagano is an internationally acclaimed Catholic scholar and lecturer on contemporary spirituality and women's issues in the church. Her award-winning books include Holy Saturday: An Argument for the Restoration of the Female Diaconate in the Catholic Church, Women & Catholicism: Gender, Communion, and Authority, and Women Deacons? Essays with Answers . She is a member of the first Papal Commission for the study of the diaconate of women. She holds a research appointment at Hofstra University, Hempstead, New York.