VATICAN: Return of the Latin Mass? "celebrate Latin Mass on a weekly basis in every parish in world"

Inside the Vatican News ^ | May 13, 2003 | Robert Moynihan

[Antipodean]

The Diaconate is part of the sacrament of Holy Order - why there can be no women ordained to it. It is considered one of the three major orders of apostolic origin. The word means go-between and could be used to describe a server at table (going between kitchen and dining room presumably)or something as exalted as a plenipotentiary ambassador between two kings. The servant ideology of the diaconate has been overstated.

[Salvation]

But deacons are ordained and are a part of the three steps of ordination.

Diaconate
Priesthood
Episcopate

Yes, diaconate can be a step on the way to becoming a priest. But please do not discount the married deacons who have been ordained as perrmanent deacons.

If their wives should die, these permanent deacons take a vow not to remarry. So it is no light commitment on their part.

[Maximilian]

The Diaconate is part of the sacrament of Holy Order - why there can be no women ordained to it. It is considered one of the three major orders of apostolic origin.

You are correct. I mis-spoke when I said that Deacon was one of the Minor Orders. It is one of the Major Orders.

[Maximilian]

But please do not discount the married deacons who have been ordained as perrmanent deacons.

I'm afraid that I do discount them. My experience with permanent deacons has been uniformly bad. Every one I have encountered has been a very badly educated pharisee who wants "his fringes long and his phylacteries broad and is fond of the front pew at the temple and the best place at the table."

Certainly there must be many permanent deacons who do not fit this description and are doing good work on behalf of God. I just haven't met any yet.

[Salvation]

**Certainly there must be many permanent deacons who do not fit this description and are doing good work on behalf of God.**

I certainly hope you run into a worthy one such as you describe. I have met several.

[Antipodean]

Nothing wrong with constitutional monarchy. It works very well on our side of the pacific. We even voted to keep it three years ago.

[royalcello]

It seems to attract every brand of freakish ecclesiastical malcontent...monarchists.

Who exactly are you talking about? I'm not Catholic (and don't post very frequently anyway) so I don't count. But I'd love to find out who all these other FR monarchists are (anyone besides B-Chan, Zviadist, and Goetz_von_Berlichingen?). And what's wrong with monarchists anyway?

[royalcello]

Sorry...forgot to include you as recipients of a post that mentioned you. (I believe that's FR etiquette, isn't it?)

[sinkspur]

And what's wrong with monarchists anyway?

They're an oddity. Also, many of them think the American Revolution was immoral.

[royalcello]

Oh no, I'm an "oddity." Well, that is sure a great criticism of the FR Religion Forum--we must not have any "oddities;" everyone must think alike!

Seriously, I'm not sure I'd say the American Revolution was "immoral," but I would have remained loyal to King George III in 1776.