A response to the videos on women and the diaconate: ‘We are second-class clergy’

Last updated on: December 13, 2016 at 1:45 pm by Deacon Greg Kandra

A response to the videos on women and the diaconate: ‘We are second-class clergy’ 2016-12-13T13:45:49-05:00 Deacon Greg Kandra

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

A deacon in one archdiocese dropped me a line this morning and made a few pointed observations about the video roundtable I took part in with America Media.

He felt there are other aspects of diaconal ministry—and the challenges deacons face—that should be kept in mind:

I cannot help but feel that the video did drift towards a more aspirational wish list as opposed to being rooted in reality.

It may seem provocative, but given the fact that women have had second-class status in our society and within our church’s structures, would women be satisfied within the reality of the diaconate that you and I and many deacons are faced with every day?

• Each bishop can decide to have permanent deacons or not.
• Each bishop may decide to put a strong diocesan diaconate on ice on a whim when he comes, and not fill chancery posts as they become vacant.
• The quality of our formation may or may not be the same.
• Our formation / training may not result in a higher academic degree (unlike seminaries or even lay church professionals).
•We are not given opportunities to receive certification for our ministry such as a (Certification in Pastoral Counseling) that is afforded seminarians.
• We are often seen as interlopers/amateurs by both groups – we are rivals on their turf.
• We are neither fish nor fowl.
• If we apply for full-time church position, we compete for them as secular persons. Our insights and growth from our diaconal ministry is ignored.
• If we try to up our qualifications for a Master’s on our own dime—so that we can compete—we have to start from nothing. We may get letters like this: “We would love to have you join the MA program… however unless the formation classes you took were for graduate credit, they can’t be transferred in to replace our classes.”
• We are not compensated for our time… neither salary or health benefits, as you noted.
• If we loose our jobs the church is not obligated to help us.
• In an increasingly aggressive secular culture, we may be subject to discrimination and silently persecuted to the cost of our jobs and benefits.

Would true justice be served? We are second-class clergy. We are neither fish nor fowl.

Obviously, your mileage may vary. Not every diocese (or every deacon) has the same problems. But the issues he raises are worth noting, and people should understand that, along with opportunities, this particular level of clergy brings its own set of challenges.

As I mentioned in the third segment: being a deacon doesn’t necessarily confer the status some think—and a number of deacons still encounter marginalization, if not outright hostility, from some priests and bishops.

I hasten to add: I’m one of the lucky ones. I’m blessed to have a deacon-friendly pastor—who is himself the son of a deacon—and a deacon-friendly bishop, who has put deacons in key positions in the diocese and has been immensely supportive of our ministry. But I know, from a lot of encounters around the country, that not everyone is as fortunate.

Uncategorized

Previous Post

December 13, 2016

Pope Francis: 'The evil of clericalism is a very ugly thing!'

Next Post

December 13, 2016 Indiana town removes cross from atop Christmas tree after ACLU sues

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category "Mad Men" 9/11 advent All Things New Amazing video amazing videos amazon america Anglicans Anti-Catholicism art ascension thursday ash wednesday Atheists baltimore Bible Bishops Blogging bonnie engstrom Books bridgeport Brooklyn Chaplains children christian art christmas Church Churches CNEWA Converts criticism Deacons Death Penalty easter eastern christian Eastern Christians Ecumenism education Education Eucharist Europe euthanasia Evangelization Exorcism Family Feasts Gay rights Good Friday Great links Great Moments in Journalism Hanging with the saints heather renshaw Hispanic Catholics Hispanics History homelies Homilies Humor Hymn of the Week Immigration indianapolis Inspiration Interfaith news ireland Jesus Jews Journalism Judaism lent Liturgy logos Marriage Mary Media Medical news Mental health Middle East Monks Movies Music Muslims My world and welcome to it New Evangelization new york News Nuns Parenting Parish life peoria Persecution politics Politics Pope pope francis pope john paul Prayer Preaching Priests Pro-life Quote of the day radio rebecca frech ripp Ripped from the headlines rippred from the headlines Sacraments saints Scripture sex abuse Sex abuse crisis SEX ABUSE CRISIS TAGGED WITH: SEX ABUSE CRISIS The people in the pews the visitation project theatre This & that Thomas Merton Trappists TV Uncategorized uncategorized Vatican VATICAN vocation Vocations Voices & Views Women Worth a thousand words Writing Year of Faith year of mercy young people

Select a Month December 2019 November 2019 October 2019 September 2019 August 2019 July 2019 June 2019 May 2019 April 2019 March 2019 February 2019 January 2019 December 2018 November 2018 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 November 2011 October 2011 September 2011 August 2011 July 2011 June 2011 May 2011 April 2011 March 2011 February 2011 January 2011 December 2010

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

Pride deceived those who dwell in the clefts of the rocks and make their home on the heights. Which nation was being addressed?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Edom Moab Ammon Philistia

Books by This Author Books by Deacon Greg Kandra

See All Titles »