It's All About the Majority: The Catholic Laity

Hi folks!

Our upcoming meeting is all about us! We will discuss the role of the laity in the Catholic Church.

Since Vatican II there has been a lot of confusion regarding the proper role of the laity regarding their role in the Church. Many of you may remember our first meeting, where we briefly touched upon this topic--now we will devote a whole evening to discusing our role!

Just who are the laity? According to Lumen Gentium, a document from Vatican II, the laity should be "understood to mean all the faithful except those in holy orders and those in a religious state sanctioned by the Church" (#31). In other words, most of the people in the Catholic Church!

So, if most of the people in the Catholic Church are part of the laity, shouldn't there be more lay ministry and/or power sharing with the clergy? It would seem the role of the laity needs to be strengthened within the Church and that there needs must be a greater level of power exerted by the laity since the majority are not ordained or leading a professed religious life. In the name of collegiality, shouldn't the laity have more power? Just what is the proper role of the laity?

Perhaps we should follow the advice of Paul Lakeland:

The laity must take on an adult role, claiming accountability and responsibility
for their work and ministry. This means everything from democratically participating in decision--making to selecting bishops, collaborating with ordained ministers at the parish level, and working at diocesan and national levels to carry out the church's mission.

Or perhaps we should follow the reasoning of Hans Kung, who supports a greater role of the laity in terms of Church heirarchy. Kung is also an advocate of democratizing the Catholic Church.

So, come join us Tuesday, November 5, as we look at the role of the laity in the Catholic Church!