Bishop forced to shelve plan for all-male Diaconate

A Catholic bishop has shelved plans to introduce an all-male Diaconate after opposition from lay women to the move.

The Bishop of Killaloe, Dr Kieran O’Reilly, has stated that it was never his intention to hurt anyone arising from his proposal to introduce the Diaconate.

Last month, Dr O’Reilly published a pastoral letter outlining his plans for a Diaconate, where he invited married and single men to apply to train as deacons.