A reader dropped me an e-mail, wondering if an ex-priest who was married could become a permanent deacon.

I told him I’d never heard of such a thing happening, and thought it highly unlikely.

Curious, I dragged down my copy of the Code of Canon Law and found this, at Can. 1041:

The following are irregular for receiving orders:

3. A person who has attempted marriage, even only civilly, while either impeded personally from entering marriage by a matrimonial bond, sacred orders, or a public perpetual vow of chastity, or with a woman bound by a valid marriage or restricted by the same type of vow…

Well, that seems to settle it. And, of course, a priest, no matter what his state in life, is also already a deacon. But if his faculties have been suspended, he’s pretty much of the running for the permanent diaconate — or so it seems to me.

I suspect exceptions are possible, but Rome would have the final word. And I don’t imagine it would be positive.

Any other thoughts out there?