Bishops of the Province of Atlanta have given priest in the six-diocese area permission to hear confessions in the entire province and also asked the National Conference of Catholic Bishops to consider restoring the permanent diaconate in dioceses that want it.

The two decisions were announced after the bishops held their annual meeting last week in Miami.

Archbishop Paul J. Hallinan said it is customary for priests to receive their faculties from their own diocese, and they have been restricted to use within that diocese. Effective immediately, all priests in good standing may now hear the confessions of penitents in the Archdiocese of Atlanta, the Dioceses of Savannah, Charleston, Raleigh, Miami and St. Augustine.

A majority vote approved the recommendation asking the NCCB to open up the possibility of a permanent diaconate in dioceses where bishops wish to restore the early apostolic practice. Such deacons, married or not, would baptize, preach, distribute Holy Communion, conduct the first part of the Mass, the “Liturgy of the Word,” witness marriages and probably have permission to anoint the sick.

It would still be the role of priest to absolve in the Sacrament of Penance and to offer the Eucharist. The possibility of a permanent diaconate was opened up by Vatican II.

In other business, the names of priest eligible for selection as future bishops were discussed and voted upon. The names were forwarded to the Caonsistorial Congregation in Rome, through the apostolic delegate. The choice in each case is made by the Holy Father.

In Atlanta, the archbishop invited all priest, lay and religious members of the archdiocesan councils and boards to suggest names. These were voted upon in the selection of names submitted to the province by the archdiocese.

Bishop Coleman F. Carroll of Miami was host at the meeting attended by Archbishop Hallinan, Bishop Joseph L. Bernardin of Atlanta, Bishop Ernest L. Unterkoefler of Charleston, S.C., Bishop Vincent S. Waters of Raleigh, N.C., Bishop Charles McLaughlin, auxiliary at Raleigh. Archbishop Joseph Hurley of St. Augustine, Fla., was unable to attend. Abbot Walter Coggins O.S.B. of Belmont Abbey, N.C. also attended the meeting.

The following bishops agreed to take responsibility for specific areas: liturgy, Bishop McLaughlin; ecumenism and the diaconate, Bishop Unterkowfler; vocations and seminaries, Bishop Carroll; lecture and conference series, Bishop Bernardin; the Province Synod in 1972, Bishop Waters with Archbishop Hurley; newsletter for bishops, Abbot Walter.