First married Deacons ordained by the Catholic Church in Ireland

Portia: "you would love my Catholic parish here in Texas. Most of our hymns are protestant and we rarely hear Catholic hymns". So why the hell do you all claim to be Catholics? Don't want to lose control over the church buildings and parish? Useless hypocrites, do the honest thing and Go Episcopalian or Bible Bum.

I note that the last survey from Ireland showed that eight per cent of Irish Catholics don’t believe in God. That's even higher than the figure for Irish vegetarians who prefer cheeseburgers to chicken nuggets.

cillowen@ What have wee in Commmonn ? Henry Tudor was a Coward and Degenerate ! It was always my Belief that Shakespeare maligned the Plantagenet's and Richard III: That Richard was Treacherized by Cowardice at Bosworth. That Richard was not a misshapen Monster, but rather a physically impressive, shrewd Protector, who inspired Fear and Envy from what would yet be, Loyal Subjects. That Henry murdered Richards Nephews Himself, in order to secure his Houses line of Succession (Probable Cause, enough to reopen an Investigation ?). Chlanna nan con thigibh a so's gheibh sibh feoil !

Always thought Celibacy was a Bad Idea for the average Priest. Only those intent on becoming Bishops, Cardinals, Popes, or Saints, need concern themselves with such Vows. Long as Women can`t become Fathers, they shouldn`t become Priests. And The Eucharist, should not be offered in a myriad of Colors, like M&M`s. Early Christian Art is all the "Global Conscience" needed to receive COMMUNION ( Only Protestants receive Christ Himself @? ) What the Church needs is Counter Reformation, Not Re-humanization @?

I reckon you're right barneyjo. A number of married Anglican priests have been ordained as priests in the RC Church after they converted. As needs must, as they say.

And of course, at some future stage, some of these men, who are married, will be adjudged to be suitable candidates to be given full holy orders, particularly with a growing acute shortage of priests. So, it will be a case of married clergy, but on the churches own terms, but only as and when necessary!!

@donal1951 - The PCUSA has both male and female deacons that carry out similar duties as those in the RCC. We also have a special group of deacons called the Stephen's Ministers who go through special training to provide more care for the sick and elderly.

The first Christian martyr, St. Stephen, was a permanent deacon back when the original apostles were running the show. So the diaconate goes back to the very beginnings of the Christian faith. Permanent deacons, especially married men, can be a very useful adjunct to the church. As someone who is Orthodox,I feel the Irish church might be better off breaking from Rome. We have married priests and it works well. We also have married permanent deacons. The rule in Orthodoxy is that a man can marry before his ordination, but cannot marry or remarry if his wife dies before him.

Portia777 you would love my Catholic parish here in Texas. Most of our hymns are protestant and we rarely hear Catholic hymns. We have one deacon and one deacon in training. Actually they do better homilies than the clergy.

There are numerous rites in the Catholic Church that permit married priests. There are also a few national churches within the Catholic Church that permit married priests. They are not required to be celibate. Pope Paul VI addressed this issue several times and even suggested that it could be debated for the Latin rite Catholic clergy. Approximately 20% of all Catholic priests are married. Admittedly they are about 99% Catholic Eastern Rites (not Orthodox). There are also a few Anglican priests who have been ordained in the Catholic Church, but make up less than 1%.

In America, there are married deacons running around all over the place. In my archdiocese, the move is toward ordaining the deacons to the priesthood. Priests are becoming little more than mascots and are being sold out by the archbishop. They know what is up. Women as pastoral associates are being given the experience to enable them to serve as pastors. Priests will just be outriders going from parish to parish. In one instance, a deacon was made administrator of a parish. The wife is a pastoral associate and has taken over the running of the parish. She has brought in gay and lesbian groups to infiltate the parish. That is the real goal of reform. Throw out the influence of the priesthood and allow the secular world to enter the vestibule. Deacons have very little formal education and when they preach, they actually do not know what they are talking about. It is all social justice and no sin.

I hadn't known that there were no deacons in Ireland before the ordination of these 8. In my local parish in upstate, N.Y. there are 2 deacons, both of whom are married with grandkids. One has a son who is an ex-marine and he often says Bebediction at the Memorial Day celebrations by our Amarican Legion post. I truly respect and admire this very fine, religious gentleman. God Bless all deacons.

Step in the right direction. The sooner they introduce married Priests the better for the Church and Christianity in Ireland.

jack4950 Totally correct. Most people of Eire have no idea how Eire and her people were given to King of England by Pope Adrian 1V in 1172 - Cashel-to keep control over us on behalf of the church of Roma. Now is our time to take the scepter of patriarchal power back.

FYI: Catholic priests can be married if they are/were a Episcopal priest married with or without children and are deemed to "have the calling" to be a Catholic priest. I'm with Jack4950, split from Rome and start anew an Irish Catholic Church. Now is the time! Women and men priests married or not. Pro-choice on celibacy. Bring hymns to the church that are Christian not just "Catholic-made hymns". Let all visiting believers take communion; is it real or symbolic is totally subjective to each worshipper. Bring a Christ-like atmosphere to the Irish Catholic Church, the likes of which has never been seen before. Ah, 'twould be grand!