Beating up on Deacons; no big deal

So much on the blogs this past weekend concerning Permanent Deacons. One topic that has been ignited on many blogs regards the issue of celibacy and continence of the Permanent Deacon. So some canon law professor reads the Code and posits that even Permanent Deacons must be celibate, at least continent. In other words, stop having sex. Well, that's news to me and I guess my wife too. But as a good husband I plan to spare her the details of this debate. Breaking news: I was married for 31 years on the day the Church ordained me; I was already very much not celibate. Moot point. As the information I provide below indicates, as a Permanent Deacon I indeed must follow conditional celibacy. If my wife would die before I do, Deacon Mike won't be getting remarried. Now I realize, glancing way into the future I trust, that this will disappoint many an eligible lady. I indeed understand this discipline and will be faithful to it provided this circumstance ever occurs. How can we, as a Church, look at the married Permanent Diaconate, and all of a sudden say no sex. As a Church do we not teach the sacredness and gift of sex, within marriage, open to procreation? Are not all 7 sacraments valid? Before I received the Sacraments of Holy Orders(and yes, Permanent Deacons do receive Holy Orders) I received the Sacrament of Marriage.

And amazingly, there is enough background on the reason the Code reads as it does relative to Canon 277 and then we can't forget to look at Canon 1042.

So until my letter arrives in the mail, me and the Mrs. will be acting like me and the Mrs.

Now tonight there is a little blub circulating out there about Deacons are not really called to charity or service. Now that we have the restoration of the Permanent Deacon approaching 43 years I guess some good natured folk just can't leave well enough alone. One of the arguments is that the Deacon is ordained to be of service to the Bishop. Duh. No kidding. And so my Bishop has assigned me to work with men in prison. Is this not service. Others that I know are sent by the Bishop to the foodbank, homeless shelter, hospital, nursing home, rehab programs, juvenile facilities. This is service. The Permanent Deacon indeed serves a parish too, and he may do many things. We preach, we assist at the altar at Mass, we Baptize (those under the age of 7), we witness marriages and we can do wake services. But we may also work with the youth group, the St. Vincent de Paul group or other function of service. I truly believe that my ability to preach effectively on Sunday flows from my service Monday thru Saturday. And most importantly, and as repeated below, it's not what we do it is who we are.

And we must remember that by the grace of ordination we are sealed with an indelible character; as a Permanent Deacon, the Church says that I serve as Christ the Servant; not in the same way as the Priest serves in the "person" of Christ; as in confession, at Mass, annointing the sick, baptizing adults, etc.

When it comes to the Permanent Deacon; to my many "more Catholic than the Pope" crowd, or those who wish to deny traditions that in fact date to apostolic, not medieval times, follow the words in the Gospel of St. John: be not afraid.

Please read the following straight from the USCCB and that which is in bold is my emphasis:


Frequently Asked Questions About Deacons

Who is a Deacon?

A deacon is an ordained minister of the Catholic Church. There are three groups, or "orders," of ordained ministers in the Church: bishops, presbyters and deacons. Deacons are ordained as a sacramental sign to the Church and to the world of Christ, who came "to serve and not to be served." The entire Church is called by Christ to serve, and the deacon, in virtue of his sacramental ordination and through his various ministries, is to be a servant in a servant-Church.


What are these "various ministries" of the Deacon?

All ordained ministers in the Church are called to functions of Word, Sacrament, and Charity, but bishops, presbyters and deacons exercise these functions in various ways. As ministers of Word, deacons proclaim the Gospel, preach, and teach in the name of the Church. As ministers of Sacrament, deacons baptize, lead the faithful in prayer, witness marriages, and conduct wake and funeral services As ministers of Charity, deacons are leaders in identifying the needs of others, then marshalling the Church's resources to meet those needs. Deacons are also dedicated to eliminating the injustices or inequities that cause such needs. But no matter what specific functions a deacon performs, they flow from his sacramental identity. In other words, it is not only WHAT a deacon does, but WHO a deacon is, that is important.


Why do some deacons become priests?

For many years ordained ministers "ascended" from one office to another, culminating in ordination to the presbyterate, or priesthood. The Second Vatican Council (1962 – 1965), however, authorized the restoration of the diaconate as a PERMANENT order of ministry. So, while students for the priesthood are still ordained deacons prior to their ordination as priests, there are more than 13, 000 deacons in the United States alone who minister in this Order permanently. There is no difference in the sacramental sign or the functions between these so-called "transitional" and "permanent deacons."


May married men be ordained deacons?

Yes. The Second Vatican Council decreed that the diaconate, when it was restored as a permanent order in the hierarchy, could be opened to "mature married men," later clarified to mean men over the age of 35. This is in keeping with the ancient tradition of the Church, in which married men were ordained into ministry. Also in keeping with ancient practice is the expectation that while a married man may be ordained, an ordained man, if his wife should die, may not marry again without special permission.

"Celibacy Affects Every Deacon: In one way or another, celibacy affects every deacon, married or unmarried. Understanding the nature of celibacy—its value and its practice—are essential to the married deacon. Not only does this understanding strengthen and nurture his own commitment to marital chastity, but it also helps to prepare him for the possibility of living celibate chastity should his wife predecease him. This concern is particularly unique within the diaconate. Tragically, some deacons who were married at the time of ordination only begin to face the issues involved with celibacy upon the death of their wives. As difficult as this process is, all deacons need to appreciate the impact celibacy can have on their lives and ministry." -- National Directory for the Formation, Ministry, and Life of Permanent Deacons in the United States, par. 72.


Is a Deacon ordained for the Parish or the Diocese?

Whenever a person is ordained, he is to serve the diocesan Church. Deacons are no different in this regard: they are assigned by the bishop to ministries for which the bishop perceives a great need, and for which the deacon may have special gifts or talents. Most often, this will be within a parish setting, just as most priests serve in a parish. Once assigned to the parish, the deacon and any other clergy assigned to the parish minister under the immediate supervision of the pastor. However, this assignment may be changed at the request of the deacon or the initiative of the bishop.


How do I find out more about becoming a Deacon?

The best place to start is with your pastor, who can put you in touch with the Director of Deacons for your diocese. The Director will be able to outline the various requirements and processes to be followed.