Archdiocese of
Office of the
Permanent Diaconate
Formation
Policy
Divorce and Separation
Revised 01/31/03
All men in the Diaconal Formation Program (DFP), including Aspirants, are expected to live an exemplary life. This must especially be reflected in both their marriage and family lives.
Should any man in the DFP experience problems in his marriage or family life, they must be brought to immediate attention of the Director of Formation.
Specific problems must be identified, together with planned remedial actions.
The individual will be place on a probationary status until the situation is remedied. In some cases, the individual may be placed on suspension, not to exceed one year.
In those cases where separation is called for, marriage counseling will be a condition of continuing in the DFP. Upon completion of counseling, it will be requested that the individual provide the Director of Formation with a written statement from the counselor that the reasons for separation have been satisfactorily resolved and further, that the marriage remains in tact. Should this not be the case, the individual will be suspended from the DFP for a period of not less that three years. At that time the individual may request reconsideration for readmission into the program. The Diaconal Formation Review Board will be responsible for evaluating the situation, interviewing the individual and others, as necessary, and making an appropriate recommendation to the archbishop.
In those cases where a divorce takes place, the individual will be immediately suspended from the DFP and will not be reconsidered for readmission for a period not less than three years. However, should the individual validly remarry in the Church during the interim, the new marriage must be in existence at least two years before reconsideration. The Diaconal Formation Review Board will be responsible, as above, to review any requests for readmission and making appropriate recommendations to the archbishop.