proposing a permanent diaconate.” 55 Although the idea of a permanent diaconate was gaining
support, a point of concern for opponents was the issue of celibacy. Should the council consider
a diaconate of married men, or even single men without an obligation of celibacy? From the
world’s bishops, there were 8,972 proposals sent to Rome. Of these at least 101 concerned the
diaconate. In January of 1962, the commission, De disciplina Sacramentorum, presented to the
Central Preparatory Commission, a draft for discussion in favor of restoration. The draft included
a restoration of the permanent diaconate in the Latin church, as ordained clerics, with the
approval of the Holy See. The draft also recommended that the ordination of mature men, even
married would not threaten the reverence of celibacy for priests. 56
The debate over the restoration of a permanent diaconate occurred during the Forty-first
and Forty-ninth (October 1963) general assemblies. The opposition to the idea was led by
Cardinal Spellman of New York. He and his supporters believed that a permanent diaconate was
not necessary, and perhaps even dangerous to priestly celibacy if it was opened to married men.
The most notable of the proponents of a permanent diaconate was Cardinal Suenens of Brussels.
Cardinal Suenens would point out the sacramental nature of the diaconate, and the pastoral
necessity of such an office.
55
56
Echlin. The Deacon in the Church past and Future, 110.
Cf. Ditewig. Emerging Diaconate, 106-109.
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