Ethan Walker
The Catholic Church has long debated the requirement of celibacy for its clergy, including deacons. While some argue that celibacy is a consequence of the obligation of continence, implying abstinence from sexual relationships, others point to historical texts suggesting that a deacon should be the husband of one wife. The tradition of celibacy has evolved over time, with some periods and regions enforcing it more strictly than others. Today, in the Latin Church, clerical celibacy is mandated for all clergy except permanent deacons, who may be married men intending not to advance to priesthood. However, deacons may not marry after ordination, and married deacons are expected to practice continence.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Catholic deacons vow of celibacy | In the Latin Church, clerical celibacy is mandated for all clergy except in the permanent diaconate. |
| Who can become a deacon? | Single men or married men can become deacons. |
| Requirements for married men | A married deacon candidate should be in a stable marriage for several years and have the expressed consent and support of his wife. |
| Requirements for single men | Single men who are ordained deacons take a promise of celibacy and may not marry once they are ordained. |
| Requirements for children | The children of a married deacon candidate should be of such an age and adjustment as not to be unduly affected by their father’s pursuit of a life that involves special apostolic commitments. |
| Age requirement | At least thirty-five at the time of ordination. |
| Religion | A Roman Catholic. |
| Other requirements | A man of prayer willing to make personal sacrifices to be a consecrated sign of God’s love for others in his vocation to serve. |
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What You'll Learn
- In the Catholic Church, clerical celibacy is mandated for all clergy in the Latin Church except in the permanent diaconate
- In the Eastern Orthodox Church, married men may be ordained as deacons but may not remarry if their wife dies
- In the Church of Sweden, a Lutheran Church, the vow of clerical celibacy was required of deacons until the 1960s
- Diocesan priests do not make a vow of chastity; they make a promise of celibacy
- Deacon candidates who are married should be in a stable marriage with the expressed consent and support of their wife
In the Catholic Church, clerical celibacy is mandated for all clergy in the Latin Church except in the permanent diaconate
The tradition of celibacy in the Catholic Church has evolved over the centuries. Initially, St. Paul's direction stated that a bishop or deacon should be "the husband of one wife", suggesting that celibacy was not obligatory for the clergy from the beginning. However, St. Paul's desire for ministers of the Gospel to remain unmarried was also recognised. During the second period of development, the Spanish Council of Elvira (between 295 and 302) imposed celibacy on bishops, priests, and deacons, marking the beginning of a divergence between East and West on this issue.
In the Latin Church, married men may be ordained as permanent deacons. These deacons must be in a stable marriage with the consent and support of their wives, and their children should be of an age where they will not be significantly impacted by their father's apostolic commitments. If a deacon candidate is single, they take a promise of celibacy similar to that of a priest and may not marry once ordained.
It is important to note that in some Eastern Catholic Churches, the rules may differ. In some cases, married men may be ordained as deacons or priests, but they may not remarry if their wife dies, and celibacy is required for bishops.
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In the Eastern Orthodox Church, married men may be ordained as deacons but may not remarry if their wife dies
The tradition of clerical celibacy in the Eastern Orthodox Church has evolved over time. In ancient times, the church had both married and celibate clergy, with married clergy expected to remain faithful to one wife. Over time, the church began to form a hereditary caste of priests, with marrying outside of these priestly families forbidden. The tradition of celibacy continued to evolve, with monastic spirituality in the fourth and fifth centuries promoting the ideal of celibacy for all priests.
Today, the Eastern Orthodox Church allows married men to be ordained as deacons and priests, but does not permit clerical marriage after ordination. This means that men who are already married can become deacons or priests, but they must marry before their ordination and may not marry again if they are widowed. This rule is based on the belief that clerical marriage is not admitted in the Orthodox Church, as it is considered to be a consequence of the obligation of continence, which implies abstinence from sexual relationships.
The Eastern Orthodox Church is not the only Christian denomination to address the issue of clerical celibacy. The Latin Catholic Church, for example, requires clerical celibacy for the priesthood, while some Protestant denominations, such as Lutheranism and Anglicanism, do not require celibacy of their clergy and allow or even encourage clerical marriage. Ultimately, the rules around clerical celibacy and marriage vary across different Christian denominations and continue to evolve over time.
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In the Church of Sweden, a Lutheran Church, the vow of clerical celibacy was required of deacons until the 1960s
In the Catholic Church, clerical celibacy is mandated for all clergy in the Latin Church with the exception of permanent deacons. However, ordination of married men to the episcopacy is excluded. In the Eastern Catholic Churches, a married priest is one who married before being ordained. In the Eastern Orthodox Church, the churches of Oriental Orthodoxy, and some Eastern Catholic Churches, married men may be ordained as deacons or priests, but they may not remarry if their wives die, and celibacy is required only of bishops.
The history of clerical celibacy in the Catholic Church can be divided into two periods. The first period is marked by St. Paul's direction that a bishop or deacon should be "the husband of one wife". These passages suggest that celibacy was not made obligatory for the clergy from the beginning. The second period is marked by conciliar legislation during which the law took definite shape in the East and the West. The earliest enactment on the subject is that of the Spanish Council of Elvira (between 295 and 302) in canon xxxiii, which imposes celibacy upon bishops, priests, and deacons.
In the early church, most bishops and presbyters continued to marry. The only marriages that required any kind of blessing were those of deacons and priests. The tradition of celibacy continued to evolve, and in some places, priests were expected to be celibate after ordination. When monastic spirituality became popular in the fourth and fifth centuries, it promoted the ideal of celibacy as a model for all priests. Church authority enforced celibacy by ordaining monks, who took vows of chastity, to evangelize large areas of Europe. The First Lateran Council (1123–1153) forbade those in orders to marry and ordered all those already married to renounce their wives and do penance. Later legislation declared the marriages of clerics not only illegal but also invalid.
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Diocesan priests do not make a vow of chastity; they make a promise of celibacy
Diocesan priests, who are not part of a religious order or congregation, do not make a vow of chastity. Instead, they make a promise of celibacy, which is a discipline that the Roman Catholic Church (the Latin Rite) requires of its priests. This means that diocesan priests commit to living a celibate life and abstaining from sexual thoughts and behaviors outside of marriage.
The tradition of celibacy within the Catholic Church has evolved over time. Initially, it was common for priests to be married and have children, with the first pope, Saint Peter, likely being married. However, the Church began to promote the ideal of celibacy, and monastic spirituality in the fourth and fifth centuries further emphasized this ideal.
In the Latin (Western) Catholic Church, married men who do not intend to become priests may be ordained as permanent deacons. On the other hand, married men are not allowed to be ordained as priests, bishops, or even transitional deacons. This distinction between permanent and transitional deacons is important, as it allows for married men to serve in the diaconate while maintaining their commitment to celibacy outside of it.
It is important to note that the Roman Catholic Church considers clerical celibacy a discipline rather than a doctrine, and exceptions are sometimes made. For example, married male Lutheran, Anglican, and other Protestant clergy who convert to Catholicism may be allowed to become priests, provided their wives consent. Additionally, in some Eastern Catholic Churches, married men may be ordained as deacons or priests but are not allowed to remarry if their wives pass away.
The Church's stance on celibacy is rooted in the belief that the life of a priest should conform to the chastity of Christ. By sacrificing married life, priests are believed to follow the example of Jesus Christ in being "married" to the church, which is viewed as the "Bride of Christ."
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Deacon candidates who are married should be in a stable marriage with the expressed consent and support of their wife
In the Catholic Church, clerical celibacy is mandated for all clergy in the Latin Church except in the permanent diaconate. Exceptions are sometimes made for ordination to transitional diaconate and priesthood on a case-by-case basis for married clergymen of other churches or communities who convert to Catholicism. However, ordination of married men to the episcopacy is excluded.
Married men can become deacons in the Catholic Church, but they must be in a stable marriage with the expressed consent and support of their wives. This is to ensure that their pursuit of a life that involves special apostolic commitments does not unduly affect their families. Diocesan diaconate offices set their own criteria for suitable deacon candidates, but common considerations include age, status, family, natural gifts, and spirituality.
The tradition of clerical celibacy has evolved over time, with some early Church Councils, such as the Council of Elvira in the 3rd century, imposing celibacy on bishops, priests, and deacons. However, other Church Fathers, such as Paphnutius, argued against strict celibacy requirements. In the Eastern Catholic Churches, the rules vary, with some requiring celibacy for bishops while allowing married men to be ordained as deacons or priests, while others require celibacy only for bishops.
The debate around celibacy in the Catholic Church continues, with some arguing for the value of consecrated celibacy and others highlighting the importance of chaste Christian marriage. The discussion often revolves around the interpretation of Canon #277 of the Code of Canon Law, which addresses clerical celibacy in the Latin Rite of the Catholic Church. Ultimately, the decision to ordain married men as deacons lies with the diocesan diaconate offices, who consider the stability of the candidate's marriage and the support of their spouse, among other factors.
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Frequently asked questions
In the Latin (Western) Catholic Church, married men may be ordained as deacons, but they may not marry after ordination. Single men who are ordained deacons take a promise of celibacy, similar to the priest’s vow of celibacy.
Yes, married men can become Catholic deacons. If married, the deacon candidate should be in a stable marriage for several years and have the expressed consent and support of his wife.
No, Catholic deacons may not marry after ordination.
No, Catholic deacons do not have to be single, but they do have to be in a stable marriage with the consent and support of their wives.
