Our survey of Catholic women found little opposition to the ordination of women as permanent deacons, but a survey of U.S. bishops revealed more skepticism of the idea.

This week on “Inside the Vatican,” we explore the topic of women deacons.

A man pursuing the diaconate must see his desire to serve as a true vocation.

A new survey has found that the majority of U.S. Catholic religious orders believe women should be allowed to serve as ordained deacons.

The number of permanent deacons in the Catholic Church has steadily grown, to more than 18,000 in the U.S. and more than 45,000 worldwide.

They stood out because they stood together, employing the wisdom of young parents, in the back of a hotel ballroom packed with 2,800 permanent deacons, their wives and children.