Women present at the altars in early Christianity, argues academic

From The Tablet-

The debate over female ordination inside the Catholic Church hinges on the role of women in early Christianity.  

When he addressed the question of women deacons, the Pope said a commission he set up to look at the historical origins of deaconesses, could not agree over whether they had received sacramental ordination or not.

He told a group of leaders of religious sisters last month: "I cannot make a sacramental decree without a theological, historical foundation.” 

How much emphasis can be given to art or artefacts from the early church? 

Dr Ally Kateusz, a research associate at the Wijngaards Institute and a historian, believes there is plenty of evidence to show women were present at the altars. 

More here-

https://www.thetablet.co.uk/news/11842/women-present-at-the-altars-in-early-christianity-argues-academic-