Protests force plan to ordain permanent deacons on hold

PROTESTS BY parishioners have forced an Irish bishop to postpone the introduction of a permanent diaconate in his diocese, writes Sarah Mac Donald.

In a letter read out in parishes across the Diocese of Killaloe on Sunday, Bishop Kieran O’Reilly acknowledged the concerns raised by individuals and groups, and said he would not “proceed with the introduction of the permanent diaconate at this time in the ­diocese”.

His decision was welcomed by those protesting at what they saw as the introduction of a further male-only ministry. Among them was Kathleen McDonnell, a retreat-giver who works for her West Clare parish pastoral council, who said: “We didn’t really expect the bishop to put it on hold. Other people have said that they can’t remember anything like this happening before.”

Bishop O’Reilly said in his letter that his intention had been “to explore different ministries open to us in the Church at the moment for the benefit of all the community”. This was taken up by Mrs McDonnell, who said the bishop’s decision had “given us an opportunity to enter into real and meaningful dialogue and explore what alternatives there may be to the diaconate”.

In the wake of the decision, Mrs McDonnell and five other women parishioners set up a meeting in Ennis on Monday evening attended by more than 200 priests and parishioners to explore ways to introduce a more inclusive ministry for the twenty-first-­century Church and “embraces everybody that wants to serve in their Church”.

According to a diocesan spokesman, the bishop was “disappointed” that the permanent diaconate was not being introduced but that he wanted to  maintain unity in Killaloe, which covers mid-western Ireland.

The permanent diaconate for single and married men (the latter need to be at least 35) was re-established by the Second Vatican Council. Deacons can celebrate baptisms, marriages and funerals but cannot say Mass or hear confessions. The spokesman said that a bishop could only use the structures available to him as laid down by the universal Church.

It is understood that a number of men had already presented for consideration as candidates for formation and training for the permanent diaconate in Killaloe.