1.   Along with permanent deacons, the church long has offered an order of deacon for those single men advancing toward the priesthood.

2.   Anne Stewart, a professor of nursing at Simmons College and a baptized Roman Catholic, recently became an ordained permanent deacon at St. Francis.

3.   In fact, married men who hold the office of permanent deacon are absorbing some of the priestly functions.

4.   While the permanent deacons perform some of the same duties as priests, there are key differences.

5.   The letter to Arizmendi expressed surprise that he had apparently violated orders to halt ordination of permanent deacons without prior approval from the Vatican secretary of state.