No, a man in the situation you describe could not continue to function as a permanent deacon. However, some distinctions are necessary so as to clarify the answer.
While celibacy is not required of a married man who becomes a permanent deacon, celibacy does apply to some permanent deacons. And this can happen in a couple of different ways. First of all, if an unmarried man becomes a permanent deacon, he is required to promise celibacy at his ordination, and to remain celibate for the rest of his life. Secondly, if the spouse of a permanent deacon dies, he is expected to live celibately from that point forward. He is not to date, or seek a new spouse. In the unfortunate situation you describe of a deacon who is divorced, he also would be expected to live celibately from that point forward. This would be true even if his marriage received a declaration of nullity from the Church. In the thankfully rare situation where permanent deacons become divorced, the local bishop usually permits such a deacon to continue ministering as a deacon. But the bishop also needs to ensure that the deacon did all he could to reasonably save his marriage, and did not casually cast aside his marital vows, which would be a scandal. Presuming this can be assured and that scandal can be avoided, the bishop can permit a divorced permanent deacon to continue ministering. But, as already stated, he must live celibately from that point forward. What if the Deacon were to refuse to follow Church law, either by flagrantly divorcing and remarrying, or by remarrying after the death of a spouse? In such cases, he would be suspended from practicing his ministry as a deacon, and likely be laicized. Since ordination confers a character, he would still "be" a deacon, but could not, in any way, perform the ministry of the diaconate. |
Author
"Building our Catholic faith one question at a time." Archives
May 2024
|