Dear Catholic Exchange:
The vocation director for the Archdiocese of Military Service has written that he will make no effort to allow deacons to serve the Church and also be in the military. His reasons for this are twofold: first, deacons cannot consecrate, forgive or annoint sacramentally; second, the diaconate will water down the military chaplaincy.
My impression from his correspondence in this matter is that he does not think it is a fight worth waging; however, there are men like myself who are not able to pursue a vocation because of this policy. My questions are: Do you think the bishop is being reasonable to be so hardhearted about this? What are some charitable ways I could go about redressing this?
I have entrusted the matter in prayer to Father Michael McGivney whose cause for canonization is in the initial stages, but I would like to know if you can share some experiences with me to help me to work for soomething I think would really benefit the Church and the military community. Thank You and God Bless You.
Sincerely,
Mark Cahill
Dear Mr. Cahill,
Peace in Christ! The permanent diaconate was a prevalent institution in the Western Church up through the 5th century. It then fell out of practice. The Council of Trent brought up the concept again, but the prescriptions regarding the permanent diaconate were never put into practice. The subject was later revisited at the Second Vatican Council. In Lumen Gentium, the Dogmatic Constitution on the Church, the Council Fathers allowed for the re-establishment of the permanent diaconate in areas where it could be useful. In allowing for this ministry, however, the Council Fathers did not mandate its implementation, but rather left it to the discretion of each local bishop.
The bishop is given the authority and responsibility for determining and ensuring the usefulness of ordained ministers for his diocese. Thus, it is left to his discretion whether the permanent diaconate is needed in his diocese. This was recently restated in a joint declaration of the Vatican Congregations for Catholic Education and the Clergy, the Basic Norms for the Formation of Permanent Deacons (1998). This document extols the good that the permanent diaconate can provide for the Church. As the Congregation for Catholic Education points out, however:
It is the competence of legitimate assemblies of Bishops or Episcopal Conferences to decide, with the consent of the Supreme Pontiff, whether and where the diaconate is to be established as a permanent rank in the hierarchy for the good of souls (no. 13).
The restoration of the permanent diaconate in a nation does not imply the obligation of restoring it in all its dioceses. The diocesan bishop will proceed or not in this regard, after having prudently heard the recommendation of the Council of Priests and, if it exists, the Pastoral Council, and taking account of concrete needs and the specific situation of his particular Church (no. 16).
While the diaconate has proven to be very useful and beneficial in many dioceses around the world, no bishop is required to have permanent deacons in his diocese. Because of the unique character of the Archdiocese of Military Service special considerations must be taken into account in looking into the possibility of the permanent diaconate. We, at Catholics United for the Faith, are not in a position to second-guess Archbishop O’Brien and Bishop Kaising.
Thanks for inquiring about the role of permanent deacons in the military. If you have further questions on this or would like more information about Catholics United for the Faith, please contact us at 1-800-MY-FAITH (693-2484). Please keep us in your prayers as we endeavor to “support, defend, and advance the efforts of the teaching Church.”
United in the Faith,
Amy Barragree
Information Specialist
Catholics United for the Faith
827 North Fourth Street
Steubenville, OH 43952
800-MY-FAITH (800-693-2484)
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