Dress Us, O Lord: On Deacons and Clerical Attire

Last updated on: June 29, 2019 at 9:31 am by Deacon Greg Kandra

Dress Us, O Lord: On Deacons and Clerical Attire 2019-06-29T09:31:22-04:00 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.

On Facebook this morning, some deacons were discussing the wearing of “clerical garb.” A deacon wrote:

“We in the Archdiocese of San Francisco received official word from the archbishop’s office that at the recent USCCB meeting the National Directory for the Permanent Diaconate was revised and approved. The bishops decided to keep the prior decision that the proper dress of permanent deacons was “lay attire” (dress like the people whom they serve).

So whereas prior to this our archbishop encouraged us to wear the collar for our ministries and Sunday Masses we will now now longer be allowed to do so. It is reserved to a few restricted situations where the collar and GRAY shirt (not black) are to be worn. The now official clerical dress for deacon is stated as “the deacon lapel pin” (sounds to me like the1970’s Sisters shedding the habit for lay clothes and “identity pins”). For liturgical rites outside of Mass (including wakes & burials) we are to wear alb or cassock/surplice and stole.”

That prompted this response from the great Deacon Bill Ditewig, which I reprint here with his kind permission:

There is NO new policy in the revised National Directory. It remains the prerogative of the diocesan bishop to establish whatever policy he determines best for his diocese. This has been the position of the USCCB since the very first “Guidelines” were published (the so-called “green book”) back in 1971.

At times, including during my tenure on the USCCB staff, attempts were made to made to establish either a regional or national policy on deacons and clerical attire; the full body of bishops voted such proposals down each and every time — and resoundingly! The reason was that each bishop wanted to retain autonomy over that decision. It was also brought out that there is no national or regional policy on ANY clerical attire for any cleric, including priests. The diocesan bishop is free to decide that he wants all of his clergy to wear orange mini-cassocks if he so chooses. “Distinctive clerical attire” is whatever the bishop says it is. So, bottom line on this point, if the archbishop of San Francisco is going to change his policy, it is NOT because of any “change” to the National Directory; no such change was made.

Someone commented that he wished someone had actually asked deacons about this. Believe me, deacons around the country WERE consulted, many, many, many times — directly, and through the diocesan deacon directors. For every deacon who wants or needs to wear clerical attire, there are deacons who oppose it. Personally, in my nearly 30 years as a deacon, I’ve been in dioceses where we wear clericals and where we don’t. Frankly, there are advantages and disadvantages — and it is precisely this fact that leads bishops to want to tailor this policy to their own pastoral situation. But deacons have been consulted on this and other matters since at least 1996 when we began the drafting process of the first edition of the National Directory. Deacons were also involved in the 1971 national guidelines (the green book) and the 1984 national guidelines (the red book). I would recommend that you also make sure your directors be made aware of your thoughts on this and other matters so they can so advise the bishop.

I’ve reviewed the revised Directory and there simply are not that many changes to it, especially in terms of things like this. The content of documents such as this is the result of the input of — literally — hundreds of people. While small writing teams can put the final touches to it for the bishops, and the bishops themselves spend a lot of time working on it directly, it’s important to remember that it has been a collaborative process involving deacons, wives, priests, bishops, diaconate organizations and so on.

Finally, remember that the fact that the bishops have approved the document does NOT mean it’s ready to be implemented. It still has to go to the Holy See for a formal “recognitio” and that can take a while, especially if the Holy See wants additional changes made.

Meantime, I am incardinated in one of those dioceses, Brooklyn, where deacons do not wear the Roman collar, ever. Not even for wakes or public ministry (hospital visits, prison services, etc.). In my travels, however, I have found more places where deacons are going with the Roman-collar-with-grey-shirt combo. Is that a trend? We’ll see.

Bottom line: as it was, so it is. It’s still the bishop’s call.

Deacons

Roman collar

Previous Post

June 29, 2019

My Life is Complete

Next Post

June 30, 2019 Pope Francis Praises Kim-Trump Meeting as 'Culture of Encounter'

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

I am an animal that chews the cud and has split hooves. What am I?

Select your answer to see how you score.

A protected animal An unclean animal A sacrifical animal A clean animal

Books by This Author Books by Deacon Greg Kandra

See All Titles »