Image
Audio file
Co-founder, The Discerning Deacons Project
I first learned of Casey Stanton and her work in a rather bizarre way. I was on a long drive several years ago when two friends from very different parts of my life both called me—only hours apart—to ask me the same question: “Have you heard of Casey Stanton? Do you know of the Discerning Deacons Project?” No, I had not heard of Casey Stanton and I did not know about the Discerning Deacons Project… but I figured I’d better find out.
I am so glad that I did. Discerning Deacons is project spearheaded by Casey and her colleague Ellie Hidalgo in collaboration with many others that responds to Pope Francis’ invitation to discern whether the Roman Catholic Church should revive the ordained diaconate for women. The project has been active in facilitating the listening work of the Synod on Synodality and in promoting the annual celebration of St. Phoebe—the first century deacon praised by St. Paul in his letter to the Romans.
Casey is a product of Sacred Heart education and a devotee of St. Madeleine Sophie Barat (featured in Chapter 7 of Redeeming Power.) But I will let her tell you more about how her education & formed her to be a “woman of courage,” unafraid of power—her own and others.