Hi, Jack —

I assume the question concerns Permanent Deacons as Transitional Deacons almost always wear them.

It depends on the Bishop they serve. Yes, they can and they usually also wear a separate symbol of the diaconate (usually a deacon stole draping a cross). In the Archdiocese of Boston, for example, they are asked not to wear them.

Canonically, Canon 284 says “clerics are to wear…” and Deacons are clerics; however, Canon 288 exempts permanent deacons from Canon 284 and leaves it up to particular law.

Fr. Jonathan