As the synod nears - II:

...Where and how often are the pendent entity) convenes its own Consul- He concluded, "if clericalism is the-con- careers of the laity celebrated as tation on the Vocation of the Laity in the trolling view behind the synod's consid- forms of Christian service in the World...

...To one, he says, it was fice of Domestic Social Development at sults no more from their ignoring a mystery...

...They, and the Catholics...

...Russell Barta, sociologist and founding member of the AS THE SYNOD NEARS II Center for the Laity, spoke for many lay persons when he told the members of a THE MANY HEADS OF CLERICALISM symposium on the laity (sponsored by a lay organization): It is one of the failures of the N AUGUST the bishops of the United to come . . . . Clericalism is an post-Vatican II church that this IStates received from their committee attitude, a mindset, a way of think- second message - that the laity on the laity and its secretariat a work- ing about things, as prevalent are church-in-the-world - is not ing paper, "Suggestions for Consulting among lay people as it is among getting through...

...of departure for the synod, evidently con- who ministers to them...

...hysterical reaction that followed, you'd duct between consenting adults a crimiIn the 1982 symposium mentioned ear- think the court had declared that anti- nal offense...

...that the lay person in the world Noonan, can you communicate with munity (cf...

...There is really no under- statute will lead to an anti-gay crusade in it should, since no useful social purpose standing of political complexities America...

...professionals are not ministered to...

...We can also take courage from the ure to recognize that the lay person is cern" which noted "a depreciation" of participants in the lay consultations who church, not simply a messenger from the ordinary social roles through which took the initiative in offering their reflecchurch to the world...

...tation especially, bishops and staff . listion of the laity and of their movements "The Lineamenta," she says, "present tened to representatives of those who, in and associations...

...There is 'no with the Laity...

...The Catholic Laity Today, is there as church, as much church church leaders who lack a given profes- 1982...

...Councilman John Erb of Rochester, New York, wrote Of several minds: David R. Carlin, Jr...

...Until church lead- cept advice from people actually in- contempt" demonstrated by lay profesers learn - or care to learn - to volved (and with distinction) in secular sionals in the peace and justice ministry affirm the secular lives of the laity, higher education, devoted Catholics for the non-church-professional laity, until they take seriously the idea though they might be...

...In the last almost said its repeal - of the court's bishops rejected a plan advanced by him twenty-five years half the states have re- longstanding doctrine of privacy...

...from Rome (which will no doubt be impontifical committee's failure to go be- This preference was pointed out by the practically late) and thus set consultation yond rhetoric...

...ing within the community itself, proposal to be made, a new venture to be All these caveats, would make it seem the church will not assist the politi- tried "so that they can conscientiously that there is too much for the synod to do, cal culture to face matters of war, respond...

...Other aspects of the the laity serve and act upon the world...

...In 1982...

...And well goods...

...It The real long-term importance of the judge) John Noonan expressed the frus- didn't...

...The attitude, he said, was clerias the deacon or lay minister work- sional experience when there is a new cal...

...O'Brien sees it in the fail- Chicago "Declaration of Christian Con- going...

...The intent of the meeting is to eration of 'the mission of the laity,' the world...

...Russell Shaw, Secretary for Public Affairs at the National Council of Catholic Bishops and its Catholic Conference got to the heart of the matter when be wrote (Fall, 1984): There's a good chance that the synod will either mark the beginning of the end of clericalism .. . or confirm its ascendancy for years 12 September 1986: 455 in Commonweal, last June 6: plan which would have enhanced the in- Nor does the increase in lay ministers In their working lives, the laity fluence of the church in secular higher and lay professionals help the situation...

...life...

...How, asks particularly those in the business com...

...There is a determination to frameworks nor the common foundation staff of their secretariat have held consultake seriously the pope's adjuration to the of all ministry, but rather the "separation tations on "lay spirituality" and on Pontifical Council on the Laity that in and distinction between priest and "Work /and Faith in Society: Catholic preparing for the synod "encouragement people," and "problems evoked by lay Perspectives...

...respect for the knowledge and expertise or her religion and calling...

...the statvolve a choice between several June upholding a Georgia anti-sodomy ute books - will not continue...

...This detachment re- higher education...

...In and some of his academic colleagues - a pealed their anti-sodomy laws, and there Griswold (1965), which declared unconCommonweal: 456...

...ABIGAIL McCARTHY they possess from their education and the experience of their callings...

...It simply said that it is not an Georgia decision lies in its revision -- I tration he felt when two different arch- unconstitutional thing...

...second-class, derivative role .. . ficult task of integrating their work This September the Chicago-based the laity are passive recipients in the world with religious insight...

...The truth may be, a vision of a vibrant mission in the secu- the words of director Dolores R. Leckey, however, that the time is too short for lar world animated by lay men and bear significant responsibility in the vartruly widespread and inclusive consulta- women without dealing seriously with ious professional and public spheres of tion, and that the mechanics of consulta- how that is to come about...

...More often than not the contribute to the synod's agenda by shar- synod, with the best intentions, may do laity in their capacity as workers/ ing its insights with delegates to the more harm than good...

...According to Virginia paper by the official body and gathering Sullivan Finn, assistant to the dean at Since that time the American Bishops' of the volunteers can be seen as acts of Weston School of Theology, the Committee on the Laity would seem to faith and hope on the part of American Lineamenta stress neither collaborative have heard that protest...

...synod, with the American bishops, and The Lineamenta, or outlines first re- They are frequently lobbied, told with the American Catholic community ceived from Rome and meant as a point what they are doing wrong, but in general...

...tions and insights to the synod...

...Recalling difficulty can easily be gleaned by listen- The activist, for example, who buys a the faltering start of Vatican 11 and its ing to those who have participated in few shares of stock so that he or she can heartening results, we dare to hope that discussions on the vocation of the laity in confront the corporate board is thought to the synod will yet mark the beginning of recent years...

...It is a question, evidently, too much to undo, too much change to abortion, and injustice, nor contri- still awaiting an answer...

...David Byers has side the church than simply de- ops' complete lack of knowledge of remarked that when he was with the oftached from it...

...During the latter consulmust, be given to a widespread participa- participation" (Gifts, Winter 1986...

...To the other it was "beyond the Bishops Conference he was often the church than from the church his grasp...

...To judge from the somewhat is served nowadays by making such conon the part of church leadership...

...effect and absorb - and yet the synod bute anything more to the .nation Even worse than the lack of respect for can make a beginning...

...find themselves less beyond or out- education - because of these archbish- It may worsen it...

...Neither was inclined to ac- bothered by the "almost unconscious ignoring them...

...lier, lawyer-professor (and now federal sodomy legislation is a good thing...

...Virginia to be the preference for the outsider and pated with its own questionnaire one Finn sees a lack of seriousness in the the amateur as model of social action...

...in Initiatives, March-April 1984: As a Catholic involved in electoral politics, I, personally, have found little or no understanding LEVIATHAN AT LARGE among church leadership of the THE COURT & THE RIGHT OF PRIVACY moral dilemmas faced by those in politics and government...

...Supreme Court decision in late than removing dead letters from...

...National Center for the Laity (an inde- rather than active agents...

...We can take courthan resounding "no's...

...professionals within the church have rian at Holy Cross College, speaking for Trepidation has been voiced by some such concerns, what are the legitimate the Catholic intellectual, could still write of those invited to comment on the synod in the lay secretariat's publication, Gifts...

...concerns of those who think of themOf several minds: Abigail McCarthy selves as church-in-the-world, whose mission is accomplished in their own fields of work...

...The paper is intended to priests and religious .. . flourishing set of pastoral stratehelp prepare for the international synod Clericalism shortchanges the gies to get this message across and on the mission of the laity, scheduled for church by assigning lay people a to help Catholics work at the difFall, 1987 in Rome...

...professional information is what seems age from the secretariat which anticiThe key word is seriousness...

...Both the circulation of the preparatory firmed this fear...

...be more "church" than is the corporate the end of clericalism and the affirmation These laymen and women see a lack of executive who struggles to integrate his of the lay vocation...

...I am not speaking here about moral values I T IS unlikely, despite recent alarmist is no reason to believe this process of such as honesty, but of the more prophecies to the contrary, that the decriminalization - which is little more complicated decision that may in- U.S...

...tion have not been extensively developed If persons who might be called lay Yet in 1986 David J. O'Brien, histoin Rome...