The option was there as early as the 80's, when I was researching a religious life.
(Yes, I know, much longer, but I'm referring to FIRST HAND knowledge!)
Anyway, it's almost 'Priest Lite'. There are a couple ceremonies you can't perform, but you can perform most of a Priest or Bishops duties, releasing him for other things.
The rules on marriage are that deacons may or may not be married, but (as I recall) they may not marry from that point forward. Thus, if not married, you may not marry; if you are married at ordination, you're fine, but you may not marry again if widowed.
So the complainers are a bit out of touch. The writer seems to be, as well.
No such thing as 'priest lite'. A deacon is a fully ordained position and has holy orders.
I don't think they are out of touch, I just think that they're trying to push this down American Catholics that somehow there can be married priests in the Latin Church and maybe priestesses too! ;)