Prior to my marriage, I went through preliminary screening and psychological testing as a potential seminarian for the priesthood in the Roman Catholic Church. I was subsequently accepted into a formation program for middle-aged men. Since I later married, I was obviouly not eligible for the priesthood by Canon Law standards. Several years later, I aplied for the diaconate as a married person. As part of the application process, I took the DPT (Deacon Perceiver Test) and passed. (Admittedly, I was told that the person administering the test was rather conservative, so I was careful with the answers I articulated.) The irony lies in the fact that I passed the tests for both priesthood and diaconate screening, when in fact the tests are designed to help those responsible for formation to decide whether applicants are being called to one or the other ministry, as opposed to both.
As I continue to discern over the diaconate, I am mindful that my primary calling is to the priesthood, despite the fact that I am married. I would therefore suspect that many who aspire toward the diaconate are instead truly called to the priesthood.
There used to be a clear distinction between the priesthood and diaconate. For example, the priesthood was primarily sacramental in nature and the diaconate was primarily an ordained ministry of service. However, in recent years, deacons have been called upon for sacramental duties with increased frequency, due to the severe priesthood shortage.
I have been involved to a large degree with various organizations that are inclusive of both married priests and married men eligible for ordination by virtue of their degrees, discernment and respective callings. Two of these organizations can be accessed via the Internet as follows: www.marriedpriests.org and www.rentapriest.com
While the diaconate is still a possibility for me, my primary calling is to the married priesthood. I therefore continue to be a strong advocate for change in the celibacy rule. My views on this subject can be viewed at http://www.angelfire.com/ga2/religious/celibacy.html
Thus far, more invitations have been extended to me to join the ranks of a married priesthood than invitations to join the diaconate. In fact, two American bishops (who shall remain nameless) have sent me e-mails expressing their support of a married priesthood and have praised my persistent efforts on this subject. In this regard, I suspect that ordinations (valid or invalid) are forthcoming.
If you are a deacon or an aspirant to the diaconate, I would ask you to discern carefully as to whether you are being called to a ministry of service or a ministry that is primarily sacramental in character. If the sacramental calling is greater than that of the service, you may indeed be called to the priesthood. Therfore, it is my prayer that as more people realize their true callings to a married priesthood, that their voices be heard by their respective bishops. The VSMC (Vatican Single Mens' Club) has ruled since 1139. The time is ripe for change!!!
Dated June 6, 2001, Raymond Grosswirth has an M.A. in Theology and an M.Div (Master of Divinity) from St. Bernard's Institute and is contemplating doctoral studies.