[ebb tide]

The more (married) deacons -> the less priests.

The less male priests -> the argument for married priests and the new womyn priests.

It's a vicious circle.

[Mrs. Don-o]

More deacons means less priests? I'm not sure causation is operating there. Could be, but I haven't seen the evidence.

It seems to me that a Bishop who can't attract and inspire men for the Priesthood, can't attract them for the Permanent Diaconate either.

I don't have any data to back me up, but it seems the priesthood and the diaconate are parallel lines. They would flourish or languish for the same reasons. They would go up or down in tandem.

It would be a good thing to study more about.

For a small diocese, Knoxville has, I think, pretty good numbers of both priests and deacons, and more of both "in the pipeline," in seminary/ training.