Jun 17, 2009
ROME, MAY 28, 2009 (Zenit.org).- "Lay people are not merely the clergy's collaborators, but rather share in the responsibility of the Church's ministry", says Benedict XVI. The Pope called on the laity to become more aware of their role when he inaugurated an ecclesial conference for the Diocese of Rome on "Church Membership and Pastoral Co-responsibility". "There should be a renewed becoming aware of our being Church and of the pastoral co-responsibility that, in the name of Christ, all of us are called to carry out," the Holy Father said.
The Pope, in one sense, is absolutely correct on this one! He recognizes, as we all do, that serious changes are needed in the Church, and even points in the right direction suggesting that we all are co-responsible for the Catholic Christian Community, the Church. The Pontiff acknowledged that this requires a "change of mentality," especially regarding lay people, shifting from "considering themselves collaborators of the clergy to recognizing themselves truly as 'co-responsible' for the being and action of the Church, favoring the consolidation of a mature and committed laity". "There is still a tendency to unilaterally identify the Church with the hierarchy, forgetting the common responsibility, the common mission" of all the baptized.
But the "devil is in the detail" (perhaps literally). "Up to what point is the pastoral responsibility of everyone, especially the laity, recognized and encouraged?" he asks. We must ask in return, what co-responsible member of a community has no say in choosing its leadership, or how the resources of the community are spent, or can tolerate secrecy, lack of accountability, and no participation in decisions of the community?
ARCC suggests that Pope Benedict must first change his own mentality about the Church. He means well, but his understanding of co-responsibility is just not real. He seeks to change our Church mentality back to the pre- Vatican II model when we had responsibilities but no rights. We call that a monarchy, not a community. His words remain sounding gongs and tinkling symbols until he changes first.
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