ACP Statement on male only diaconate.
Association of Catholic Priests Statement
on the Permanent Lay Diaconate
Fri 11 August 2017
The Leadership of the Association of Catholic Priests fully supports Fr Roy Donovan (Cashel & Emly) in his statement on the decision by the Archbishop of Cashel & Emly to set up a group to investigate initiating the permanent lay diaconate in his diocese.
Roy’s objection is based on the fact that currently the Church confines the lay diaconate to men, even though Pope Francis has a commission working on the history of women deacons in the early church, with a view to possibly opening the diaconate to women also.
