Lay men, even if they are married, will be allowed to celebrate marriages, baptisms and funerals as Archbishop Paul Cremona this evening gave the green light to the ordination of permanent deacons  - the first degree of Holy Orders in the Catholic Church.

Addressing the diocesan assembly at St Monica School in Birkirkara, Mgr Cremona said that he took the decision following years of reflection and consultation.

He said that the decision was not motivated by the dwindling number of priests but by a desire to give prominence to the richness of the Holy Orders.

This development also came in the wake of criticism levelled some weeks ago that the Maltese Church was in crisis as it lacked leadership. The Catholic Church had re-introduced the possibility of ordaining permanent deacons 50 years ago following the Second Vatican Council.

However, the decision was left to the respective archdioceses.

In the case of Malta, the Church never felt the need to appoint permanent deacons, introduced decades ago in certain countries.

To date, the Church in Malta only allowed those intending to become priests to be ordained deacons.

The first moves to introduce permanent deacons date back to the diocesan synod held between 1999 and 2003.

Subsequently the proposal was discussed internally including within the Presbyterian Council and the College of Parish Priests.

In 2012, Archbishop Cremona appointed two commissions to look into the introduction of permanent deacons. He was given the final recommendations in November that year.