Cecily Zamora
A deacon is a member of the Catholic clergy, and there are two types: transitional deacons and permanent deacons. A transitional deacon is on the path to becoming a priest and is bound by the canons on marriage and celibacy, while a permanent deacon is typically already married and is allowed to continue living with their spouse. This article will explore the question of whether a deacon can be in a common-law marriage, considering the Catholic Church's teachings and the role of deacons within the Church.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Can a deacon get married? | Permanent deacons can get married and the Church ordains men who are already married to the permanent diaconate. However, a transitional deacon cannot get married. |
| Can a deacon officiate a secular wedding? | A Catholic deacon cannot officiate at a non-church wedding. |
| Can a deacon celebrate a Catholic wedding? | A Catholic deacon can celebrate a Catholic wedding if he has been delegated by the bishop or parish priest to do so. |
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What You'll Learn
Permanent deacons can marry
Permanent deacons are ordained to the diaconate as their permanent station in the Church. They are not on the path to becoming priests, unlike transitional deacons. Permanent deacons can be married before their ordination. However, a permanent deacon cannot marry after ordination. An exception to this rule is that the Holy See can grant a widowed permanent deacon the dispensation to remarry.
The Second Vatican Council decreed that the diaconate could be opened to "mature married men", later clarified to mean men over the age of 35. This is in keeping with the ancient tradition of the Church, in which married men were ordained into ministry. Canon 1042 n. 1 states that a married man is impeded from receiving the sacrament of Holy Orders, unless he is destined for the permanent diaconate.
Married permanent deacons are expected to observe perfect and perpetual continence, in other words, they must live celibate, chaste lives. This understanding of celibacy strengthens and nurtures the deacon's commitment to marital chastity and helps prepare him for the possibility of living a celibate life should his wife pass away before him.
Most dioceses in the United States with a permanent diaconate expect wives to go through formation with their husbands, often a three- to four-year process. The U.S. bishops’ guidelines only require wives’ formal consent to their husband’s ordination.
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Deacons cannot officiate non-Catholic weddings
In the Catholic Church, a deacon can only officiate a wedding if they have been delegated to do so by a bishop or parish priest, per Canon 1108.1. However, this only applies to Catholic weddings. If a deacon were to officiate a non-Catholic wedding, it would not be considered valid by the Catholic Church.
In some cases, a deacon may be able to officiate a non-Catholic wedding if they are not acting on behalf of the Catholic Church. For example, if the deacon is a permanent deacon, they may be able to officiate a non-Catholic wedding if they are not using their "powers" as a deacon. However, this would likely be considered highly irregular and could result in the deacon facing disciplinary action.
It is important to note that the rules regarding deacon involvement in weddings can be complex and subject to interpretation. The specific regulations can vary depending on the diocese and the local bishop's interpretation of canon law. As such, it is always best to consult with a Catholic priest or canon lawyer for specific guidance.
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Deacons cannot officiate Orthodox weddings
In the Catholic Church, a deacon can validly celebrate a Catholic wedding if he has been delegated by the bishop or parish priest to do so. However, this is not the case in the Orthodox Church. The Orthodox Church requires that the celebrant of a wedding be a priest. This is because, in addition to the exchange of vows by the spouses, the Orthodox understanding of a valid marriage ceremony involves a blessing on the marriage by a priest.
The Orthodox Church follows St. Paul's instruction that spiritual leaders be married to only one woman. Thus, if a priest's wife dies or they get divorced, he cannot remarry and remain a priest. In such circumstances, he is expected to be celibate. While the Orthodox Church does not require priest celibacy, a priest cannot marry while he is a priest. If he wishes to have a family life, he must get married before he is ordained to the deaconate, the penultimate step before becoming a priest.
In the Catholic Church, there is a similar rule requiring priest celibacy, which was formally established at the Council of Trent in 1563. However, there is an ongoing debate within Catholic circles about whether to revoke this rule. If priestly celibacy were no longer required, the Catholic Church would likely return to its former practice of allowing priests to marry.
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Deacons cannot administer the Sacrament of Holy Matrimony
In the Catholic Church, a deacon can be married, but this is only the case if they were married before they were ordained. A transitional deacon, who is on the road to priestly ordination, is bound by the canons on marriage and celibacy and will never be able to marry. However, the Church does ordain men who are already married to the permanent diaconate, and they continue to live with their wives.
In the Orthodox Church, the situation is different. For the wedding of an Orthodox person to be valid, the celebrant has to be a priest. This is because the Orthodox understanding of a valid marriage ceremony involves the conferral of a blessing on the marriage by a priest, in addition to the exchange of vows by the spouses. The Orthodox hold that such a blessing cannot be conferred by a deacon.
In the case of a civil marriage, a deacon cannot preside over the wedding of two Catholics as it would not be considered valid by the Catholic Church. However, if the couple were non-Catholics, a deacon would be able to preside over the marriage.
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Widowed permanent deacons can remarry under certain circumstances
The Catholic Church generally prohibits widowed deacons from remarrying. However, in certain circumstances, the Church has granted dispensations to this rule.
A deacon who wishes to remarry must be certified by his bishop to be indispensable to the operation of his diocese, and he must be responsible for the care of either his children or sick parents. Both elements need to be present, and even then, such a request may not be granted. The final decision rests with Rome, which examines such requests on a case-by-case basis.
The rule is tied to the requirement of priestly celibacy and would need to be changed by papal intervention. However, there are cases where the Church has allowed a deacon to remarry, particularly if there are young children involved and the lack of a mother would be detrimental to their growth.
The Church's position on this issue is based on St. Paul's instruction to Timothy: "Deacons must not have been married more than once" (1 Tim 3:13). This is reflected in the Code of Canon Law (1983), which states that those in sacred orders cannot validly marry (c1087). However, the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments allowed a dispensation from the law in 1998, recognising that there are exceptional cases where a widowed deacon may be permitted to remarry.
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Frequently asked questions
A deacon cannot be in a common-law marriage as the Catholic Church does not recognize marriages outside of the Church as valid.
In 1997, the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Sacraments issued a letter outlining the possible exceptions that might lead the Holy See to grant a widowed permanent deacon the ability to remarry. The final decision rests with Rome, which examines such requests on a case-by-case basis.
No, a deacon cannot marry someone who is not Catholic. The deacon cannot preside over the marriage as it would not be considered valid by the Catholic Church.
A deacon cannot marry someone who is Orthodox. For an Orthodox marriage to be valid, the ceremony must be conducted by a priest.
No, a deacon cannot marry someone who is not religious. The deacon cannot preside over the marriage as it would not be considered valid by the Catholic Church.
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