VOA慢速英语2021 教皇允许女性在教会中担任更多角色（在线收听）

Pope Says Women Can Read at Mass But Still Cannot Be Priests

The leader of the Roman Catholic Church on Monday changed ancient rules governing duty requirements for religious service. The order from Pope Francis officially recognizes women as non-clergy, or lay, administrators during even the highest church service.

周一，罗马天主教会领袖修改了管理宗教服务职责要求的古老规定。教皇方济各的命令正式承认女性为非神职人员，即使在最高的教会服务期间也不例外。

Francis amended the law to make official what is already common in many parts of the world: Women serve as lectors. They read passages of the Christian holy book to Catholics gathered for religious service. They also serve, like non-clergy men, to assist the priest during the most important ceremony: holy communion.

方济各修改了这条法律，让世界许多地方已经很普遍的做法正规化：让女性担任讲师。她们向参加宗教仪式的天主教徒阅读《圣经》中的福音。他们也像非神职人员一样，在最重要的圣餐仪式上协助牧师。

Francis said he was making the change to increase recognition of the "precious contribution" women make in the church. He added that all confirmed Catholics have a part to play in the work of the church.

方济各说，他做出这一改变是为了提高人们对于女性为教会做出的“宝贵贡献”的认可。他补充说，所有接受过洗礼的天主教徒都可以参与教会的工作。

The change comes as Francis remains under pressure to open clergy positions to women. Only men are permitted to serve as official leaders of the Roman Catholic Church, and make rules under which all followers are to live.

这一变化出台之际，方济各正面临着让女性担任牧师职位的压力。只有男性才能获准担任罗马天主教会的神职人员，并制定所有信众必须遵守的规则。

Religious history experts say women shared control of Catholic leadership in the early years of the ancient faith. Francis has ordered a group of experts to study whether women could be named deacons. Deacons are the lowest level of clergy. An earlier group had reported to the Pope about the history of women deacons.

宗教历史专家称，在天主教早期，女性也是天主教领导层的一员。方济各已下令一组专家研究是否可以任命女性担任执事。执事是神职人员中最低级的职位。早些时候，一个组织向教皇报告了女执事的历史。

People who support expanding the rules say Catholic females deserve greater say in the direction of the Church. They also say such a change would help deal with clergy shortages in several parts of the world.

支持扩大这一规定的人表示，天主教女性应该在教会的发展方向上拥有更大的话语权。他们还表示，这样的改变将有助于解决全球部分地区神职人员短缺的问题。

Opponents want to continue the Roman Catholic tradition of only permitting men to officially serve.

反对者想要延续罗马天主教只准男性担任神职人员的传统。

Phyllis Zagano was a member of the pope's first study. She called the new rules important. She said they represent the first time the Church has given women access to the altar by religious law. She noted that high-level members of the church have long called for such a move.

菲利斯·扎加诺(Phyllis Zagano)是教皇第一个研究小组的成员。她称新规定很重要。她说，这是教会首次根据宗教法律允许女性进入圣坛。她指出，教会高层成员长期以来一直呼吁这一举措。

"That's a very big deal," said Zagano, a professor at New York's Hofstra University.

“该事件意义重大，”纽约霍夫斯特拉大学(Hofstra University)教授扎加诺说道。

Lucetta Scaraffia is the former editor of a Catholic Church publication directed at women. She called the changes a "double trap." She said they make official what is already happening, including at Pope-led services. She said the changes also make clear that the office of the deacon is an "ordained" ministry open only for men.

Lucetta Scaraffia是一家针对女性的天主教出版物的前编辑。她称这些改变是一个“双重陷阱”。她说，他们只是将目前的做法正式化，包括在教皇主导的仪式上。她说，这些变化也清楚表明，执事办公室是一个“指定任命”的部门，只对男性开放。

"This closes the door on the diaconate for women," she told Associated Press reporters in a telephone call. She described the change as a "step backward" for women.

她在电话中告诉美联社记者：“这关闭了女性担任执事的大门。”她将这一变化对女性而言是一种“倒退”。

Words in This Story

priest - n. a person who has the authority to lead or perform ceremonies in some religions and especially in some Christian religions

precious - adj. very valuable or important

contribution - n. something that is done to cause something to happen

access - n. a way of getting near, at, or to something or someone

altar - n. a platform or table used as a center of worship in Christian ceremonies and services

ordained - adj. related to officially making (someone) a minister, priest, rabbi, etc.

diaconate - n. the office of deacon