Here’s something you don’t see every day: news about deacons now wearing the collar.
From Northwest Catholic:
Beginning Dec. 26, permanent deacons in the Archdiocese of Seattle will be allowed to wear gray clerical shirts with a Roman collar when actively engaged in ministry in a public setting.
Archdiocesan policy had previously prohibited the wearing of a Roman collar by deacons, except for special situations, like street ministry, with the express permission of the Office of the Vicar for Clergy.
Some deacons requested and received that permission. Their experiences ministering on the streets of Seattle raised the idea for this change, said Deacon Eric Paige, the archdiocese’s director for deacons.
Related: Collared deacons: this is how it’s done
“Originally, wearing the Roman collar when on the streets was about ensuring our safety,” he said. “But then we discovered that wearing the collar while serving those on the margins created the opportunity for encounters that would never happen otherwise. We asked, ‘Why not make this possible in other settings like prison ministry, hospital ministry and committals?’”
Before considering the proposal, Seattle Archbishop Paul D. Etienne asked the Office of the Vicar for Clergy to consult deacons and priests throughout the archdiocese and to discuss the topic with dioceses across the country.
This consultation turned up “many benefits and few problems,” Deacon Paige said, and Archbishop Etienne approved the policy change.
