Decree 9: The Permanent Diaconate, General Congregation 32 (1975)

The 32nd General Congregation amends Decree 6 of the 31st General Congregation as follows:

1.     In willing compliance with the desire of the Church, which commends the restoration of the permanent diaconate in the Eastern Churches, where the custom was discontinued, and also in the Western Church, where in the judgment of the bishops and with the approval of the Holy See such renewal may lead to the spiritual progress of the faithful, the General Congregation declares that our Society can be helped by having some members who are permanently engaged in the service of the Church by means of the holy order of the diaconate.

2.     Those members who for good reasons approved by Father General are ordained permanent deacons will retain the grade that they already have in the Society; if they are approved coadjutors, they are to be advanced to the grade of formed temporal coadjutors, all requisites having been observed; if they are scholastics, they can be admitted by Father General to the grade of spiritual coadjutors, by way of exception, once all requisites have been observed, but they cannot be made superiors in the strict sense.

3.     It is entrusted to Father General to obtain the necessary faculties from the Holy See so that there can be permanent deacons in the Society; and also to establish, whenever he judges it opportune, general or particular norms concerning the permanent diaconate in the Society.