October 07, 2003
A Link and a Question
First, Fr. Keyes at the New Gasparian has posted his interview answers. I highly recommend you take a few moments to read his responses - they are very insightful.
Now for a question. The situation is that a Deacon in my local parish has resigned from his duty for two reasons. The first is that he is suffering from Polio and it has become difficult to perform his duties. The second is that he divorced his wife of thirty years and is now planning to marry another woman. My question: Can a divorced man serve as a Deacon? I was under the impression that he could not, but I'll leave it up to others to educate me. Second, what's your take on this? The whole situation saddens me greatly as if someone who was so close to winning just dropped out of the race. Am I offbase here?
Jay
Posted by Jay at October 7, 2003 09:30 AM | TrackBack |
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Ouch, what an awful situation. If the deacon marries outside the church he places himself in an irregular situation with the Church. More than likely he would be suspended as a Deacon. This is very sad.
If you know him can you recommend Retrouvialle to him?
www.retrouvaille.org
This may vary from place to place, but I believe in our ArchDiocese (Calgary, Canada) a Deacon may not remarry even if his wife dies.
I also understand that Catholics who remarry without first obtaining an anullment are not officially allowed to receive communion.
I am unsure about what happens if a Deacon's wife leaves him. I do know that someone planning on becoming a Deacon requires the support and approval of his wife (not sure if she must belong to the Roman Catholic Church).
At times like this, I remember the words of the priest who helped us prepare for marriage. He mentioned that Canon Law is essential because we live in community - but that Canon Law does not always express spiritual truths in the most profound fashion. I found this an enlightening perspective especially considering that he served on the Marriage Tribunal and had to read and interpret quite a bit on Canon Law.
Posted by: Richard Wan at October 7, 2003 12:36 PMIt does not vary from place to place. Sorry I did not remember this little detail. The church has always ordained married men but has never allowed ordained men to marry.
Posted by: Fr Jeffrey Keyes, CPPS at October 7, 2003 03:35 PMyeah someone might want to delete that last post, that name looked horrible on the front page.
Posted by: Tom Ace at April 16, 2004 07:44 PMTom,
Thanks for the help. It's amazing the immorality of some people! We have a blogspam blocker, but of course it sometimes misses posts like that. The good news is, now the guy is blocked from doing at any other site using the blocker!
God bless,
Jay
What if a deacon was married but the wife left him, then he was granted an allnulment by the Church. Can the Deacon remarry? If so what is the process to remarry within the Catholic Church?
Thank you
Tanya
Tanya, I think Fr Jeffrey Keyes answered your question in his post above.
The Catholic Church has never allowed ordained men to get married. That being said, a priest or a deacon can get laicized (almost like anulling the ordination) and then remarry. I think trying get ordained a Deacon again after remarrying and being laicized would be pushing it though.
To Jay's original question, I believe a divorced man can serve as Deacon but not one who has remarried. Just like a divorced Catholic can receive communion but not one who has remarried. I think the difference is that the Deacon has two impediments to marriage: the previous marriage (which could be declared null), and the ordination (which can also be declared null). The laity usually only have one impediment to marriage: a previous marriage.
Posted by: Broken Record at October 5, 2005 11:31 AM
