Someone look over this article about permanent deacons in India and let me know if I'm nuts.
First, the article says, "For the first time in the history of the church in India, laymen will be allowed to perform the functions of a full-fledged priest, except for conducting mass and hearing confessions."
Permanent deacons are not considered laymen after ordination, right?
The next one is a real groaner: "Married men who take up the vocation are expected to embrace the vow of celibacy." Wouldn't the word "chastity" be more appropriate? It's probably just an issue of a Hindu journalist being less familiar with Catholic teaching and terminology.
Deacons, permanent or otherwise, are clergy (along with priests and bishops). They receive the sacrament of holy orders. They are not laymen.
All married men are expected to live in chastity (which, in the case of married men, means faithfulness to their wife).
Married Deacons are not prohibited from engaging in the normal aspects of married life.
A deacon (and his wife) promise that he will remain celibate if his wife precedes him in death.
Bills comments are correct--except his last point is a little muddled. My wife did not have to promise I would embrace celibacy if she died--only I had to make that promise.
My wife made me promise to be celibate if she dies, and I am not a deacon.
Is this an Eric sighting?
Ah - the Loch Ness Blogger has come up to the surface to make pithy comments.