An excellent article! I am a big believer in the potential for the permanent diaconate. I feel like the vocation is still fairly nascent, and there's room for its meaning and sacramental theology to fill out and deepen, so I'm encouraged any time the diakonia is engaged in an earnest and full way. I've met a number of permanent deacons, several of whom were absolutely excellent, transcending the sort of "aw shucks!" parish pops kind of stereotype that permanent deacons seem often to fall into (I say this lightly, without any acid!), really flourishing as servants, clerics, and sacramental ministers. I look forward to the future development of the diaconate!
Thank you for writing. Preparing this story has been a journey of greater discovery for me. May those called to the diaconate be found wherever they are need to make the Church flourish.
I would love to hear The Pillar's commentary on Edward Peters' discussion on whether the law binds permanent deacons to perpetual continence ( https://www.canonlaw.info/a_deacons.htm ). If he's accurate, we have a serious problem of many people living outside of the Church's law, but not realizing it. This is a serious consideration for any man discerning the permanent diaconate: either Peters (a well-respected canonist) is wrong, or law and/or practice must change.
An excellent article! I am a big believer in the potential for the permanent diaconate. I feel like the vocation is still fairly nascent, and there's room for its meaning and sacramental theology to fill out and deepen, so I'm encouraged any time the diakonia is engaged in an earnest and full way. I've met a number of permanent deacons, several of whom were absolutely excellent, transcending the sort of "aw shucks!" parish pops kind of stereotype that permanent deacons seem often to fall into (I say this lightly, without any acid!), really flourishing as servants, clerics, and sacramental ministers. I look forward to the future development of the diaconate!
Thank you for writing. Preparing this story has been a journey of greater discovery for me. May those called to the diaconate be found wherever they are need to make the Church flourish.
*needed
I would love to hear The Pillar's commentary on Edward Peters' discussion on whether the law binds permanent deacons to perpetual continence ( https://www.canonlaw.info/a_deacons.htm ). If he's accurate, we have a serious problem of many people living outside of the Church's law, but not realizing it. This is a serious consideration for any man discerning the permanent diaconate: either Peters (a well-respected canonist) is wrong, or law and/or practice must change.