discussions at Dachau, Married Men as Ordained Deacons. 49 Inspired by the discussions of the
Priesterblock, and various articles, many in the Church began to think about a permanent
diaconate. One such person, was a young forestry worker named Hannes Kramer. (translated
John Kramer, no relation that I am aware, but I am happy to include his contribution) Kramer
dedicated himself to a diaconal ministry and in 1951 established the first diakonatskreis or
diaconate circle. Along with charitable services, the group explored the possibility of a renewed
ordained permanent diaconate. These circles eventually organized themselves into the
International Diaconate Center which opened an office in Rome as a resource to fathers
participating in Vatican II. 50 Perhaps Mr. Kramer can be seen as one of the fathers of the modern
permanent diaconate.
The idea of a permanent diaconate was gaining steam. In a 1954 essay by Karl Rahner,
The Universal Apostolate, echoing the sentiments of theologians such as, Yves Conger O.P.,
Joseph Low, CSSR, and P. Brockmoller SJ, Rahner writes,
The idea of a married deacon has nothing to do with relaxing the rule of celibacy. It is
basically a matter of the renewal of the diaconate as a hierarchical office with a real,
defined sphere of activities, with a field of apostolic work (which has practically died
out), and the conferring of ordination for such work. As soon as this office is recognized
as permanent, standing independently on its own and not as a stepping stone to ordination
(that is, not as a transition to the celibate priesthood-the author), no one need think any
longer, that it necessarily would be administered by one who is unmarried. It would
therefore, have a ranking in the hierarchical apostolate. 51
49
Ditewig. Emerging Diaconate, 98.
Ibid. 99.
51
Josef Hornef, “The Genesis and Growth of the Proposal,” in Foundations for the Renewal of the Diaconate, 18.
50
30