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Question Title	Posted By	Question Date
Re: Sub-deacons.	george	Monday, September 15, 2008
Question: In the Ukrainian Catholic Church, I noticed they have sub-deacons. Are they subject to the same canonical laws as deacons? For example, If a person whose calling is to be a sub-deacon but did not have a previous marriage annulled,could they still become a sub-deacon ?
Question Answered by Bro. Ignatius Mary, OLSM Dear George: The subdeaconate is one of the steps leading to the priesthood. The Latin Rite considered this to be part of the Major Orders, but was suppressed by Pope Paul VI. The Eastern Catholics consider the subdeaconate to be one of the Minor Orders. The Eastern Catholics allow married priests so I believe a subdeacon can be married but must be married before ordination as a subdeacon and if their wife dies cannot get remarried. I have no idea how the Eastern Catholics deal with civil divorce and annulments. In the Latin Rite the subdeacon had to have single status (thus an annulment would be required). I haven't the slightest notion of how this is handled in the Eastern Rites. Bottomline, I assume that subdeacons have the same canonical requirements as deacons. But, since I do not have a copy of the Eastern Canon Law, I am not completely sure. God Bless, Bro. Ignatius Mary Footer Notes: This forum is for general questions on the faith. See specific Topic Forums below: Spiritual Warfare, demons, the occult go to our Spiritul Warfare Q&S Forum. Liturgy Questions go to our Liturgy and Liturgical Law Q&A Forum Liturgy of the Hours (Divine Office) Questions go to our Divine Office Q&A Forum Defenfing the Faith Questions go to our Defending the Faith Q&A Forum Church History Questions go to our Church History Q&A Forum

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Posted By

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Re: Sub-deacons.

george

Monday, September 15, 2008

Question:

In the Ukrainian Catholic Church, I noticed they
have sub-deacons. Are they subject to the same canonical
laws as deacons? For example, If a person whose calling
is to be a sub-deacon but did not have a previous marriage
annulled,could they still become a sub-deacon ?

Question Answered by Bro. Ignatius Mary, OLSM

Dear George:

The subdeaconate is one of the steps leading to the priesthood. The Latin Rite considered this to be part of the Major Orders, but was suppressed by Pope Paul VI. The Eastern Catholics consider the subdeaconate to be one of the Minor Orders.

The Eastern Catholics allow married priests so I believe a subdeacon can be married but must be married before ordination as a subdeacon and if their wife dies cannot get remarried.

I have no idea how the Eastern Catholics deal with civil divorce and annulments. In the Latin Rite the subdeacon had to have single status (thus an annulment would be required). I haven't the slightest notion of how this is handled in the Eastern Rites.

Bottomline, I assume that subdeacons have the same canonical requirements as deacons. But, since I do not have a copy of the Eastern Canon Law, I am not completely sure.

God Bless,
Bro. Ignatius Mary

Footer Notes: This forum is for general questions on the faith. See specific Topic Forums below:
Spiritual Warfare, demons, the occult go to our Spiritul Warfare Q&S Forum.
Liturgy Questions go to our Liturgy and Liturgical Law Q&A Forum
Liturgy of the Hours (Divine Office) Questions go to our Divine Office Q&A Forum
Defenfing the Faith Questions go to our Defending the Faith Q&A Forum
Church History Questions go to our Church History Q&A Forum