Published: 2018-01-07

Some Juridical Aspects of the Permanent Diaconate

Ryszard Selejdak
Warszawskie Studia Pastoralne
Section: Artykuły
https://doi.org/10.21697/wsp.2016.11.3.32.03

Abstract

One of the fruits of the Second Vatican Council was the restoration of the diaconate as a proper and permanent rank in the hierarchy. Paul VI in his Motu proprio, Sacrum diaconatus ordinem established the general norms for the restoration of the permanent diaconate in the Latin Church. According to that document, legitimate assemblies of Bishops or Episcopal Conferences are competent to decide, with the agreement of the Roman Pontiff, if and where, in view of the good of the faithful, the diaconate should be established. As regards the right to establish the permanent diaconate within Institutes of consecrated life and Societies of apostolic life, the document of Paul VI provides that this is reserved to the Holy See, which alone is entitled to examine and approve the opinions of general chapters on the subject. Furthermore, the Holy See has the right to establish the permanent diaconate in other institutes, which profess the evangelical counsels. The status of the deacon carries with it various specific rights and obligations, based upon cann. 273-289 of the Code of Canon Law, which address the rights and obligations of clerics, with particular provisions for deacons. Sacred ordination, once validly received, may never be lost. The loss of the clerical state, however, takes place according to the provisions of the canonical norms.

Keywords:

permanent diaconate, permanent deacons, diocesan bishop, major superior, Episcopal Conference, particular Church, Institute of consecrated life and Society of apostolic life, discernment of suitability, requirements and age of the candidate, celibate, mar

Citation rules

Selejdak, R. (2018). Some Juridical Aspects of the Permanent Diaconate. Warszawskie Studia Pastoralne, 3(32), 25–60. https://doi.org/10.21697/wsp.2016.11.3.32.03

Cited by / Share


This website uses cookies for proper operation, in order to use the portal fully you must accept cookies.