LAY PARTICIPATION AND
INTRA-ECCLESIAL DIALOGUE (NOVEMBER, 2013)
Executive Summary
This White Paper argues
for increased attention to lay participation, dialogue, and co-responsibility
throughout the life of the church. In hopes of adding some points of reflection
to the important work of the Committee of Cardinals for Curial Reform, this
paper humbly makes three proposals:
1. The reinstitution of
structures of lay participation and dialogue at all levels in the church,
including the organization of a Fourth World Congress of the Lay Apostolate and
creation of a Pontifical Congregation for the Laity,
2. The mobilization of
resources to support international lay initiatives and in particular those
initiatives and movements concerned with training youth, students and young
professionals.
3. The relocation of
certain curial offices from Rome to other continents, as a witness and a sign
of the universality of the Catholic mission and communion.
"Is pastoral
discernment a habitual criterion, through the use of Diocesan Councils? Do such
Councils and Parish Councils, whether pastoral or financial, provide real
opportunities for lay people to participate in pastoral consultation,
organization and planning? The good functioning of these Councils is critical.
I believe that on this score, we are far behind.”
Pope Francis (Address
to CELAM Leadership, 28 July, 2013)
Pax Romana-ICMICA
warmly welcomes the initiatives of the Holy Father, Pope Francis, to renew the
Roman Curia and the leadership structures of the global church. Over the past
few years, we have seriously reflected on the need for a new evangelization in
light of the fiftieth anniversary of the Second Vatican Council and our
apostolic mission among professionals and intellectuals. We have taken the
liberty to synthesize three concrete proposals for the reform of the Curia in
light of these reflections.
1. ASSOCIATIONS OF THE
FAITHFUL AS INSTRUMENTS OF CO-RESPONSIBILITY
The complex and
ambivalent reality of globalization accentuates the need for organized
apostolic efforts at the international level. No one local church or church
movement can effectively evangelize culture alone. New strategies and
structures, guided by the principles of subsidiarity and solidarity, are needed
to support efforts at the parish, national, continental and global levels. A
more coherent way to engage the participation of the international associations
of the faithful in the structures of the Holy See, as envisioned by Apostolicam
Actuositatem no. 26,
would strengthen the
Curia’s bridge-building role. The proposal by H.E. Cardinal Rodriguez Maradiaga
for the creation of a Congregation for the Laity is an opportunity to strengthen intra-ecclesial
dialogue (Cf. Ecclesiam Suam no. 113-17).
A Congregation for the
Laity has a great potential to engender and strengthen a common sense of
mission among international associations, communities and congregations with
different charisms, spiritualities and methodologies. Greater reflection is
needed to consider the place of all internationally recognized associations
within the Church; their relationship to the Curia; their relationship to one
another; and their participation in the Church’s single mission. Care should be
taken to engage voices from different types of legitimate organizations,
regional representations, and understandings of mission. The impression that
one type of organization or national group is privileged over another, even if
it is not the reality, can cause division within the Church.
“It is important to
remember Aparecida, the method of gathering diversity together. Not so much a
diversity of ideas in order to produce a document, but a variety of experiences
of God, in order to set a vital process in motion….There is need, then, for a
greater appreciation of local and regional elements. Central bureaucracy is not
sufficient; there is also a need for increased collegiality and solidarity.”
Pope Francis (Address to Brazilian Bishops 28 July, 2013)
Therefore, we propose
the organization of a World Congress of the Apostolate or a similar gathering
that would bring together the leadership of all international associations of
the faithful recognized by the Holy See together with regional representatives.
Pax Romana is proud to have been involved in planning the three World
Congresses of the Lay Apostolate (1951, 1957, and 1967) as well as with H.E.
Pietro Parolin in the organization of the two Forums of Catholic-Inspired NGOs
(2007 and 2010). These meetings provide models for a future World Congress, in
that representatives of diverse organizations in collaboration with members of
the Curia planned the events in a sprit of co-responsibility.
The three
congresses of the lay apostolate were also importantly preceded by regional
conferences and inductive surveys. 2017,
the fiftieth anniversary of the last congress may provide an opportune time to
organize a Fourth World Congress. Continental and national meetings could also
be organized in conjunction with this process.
Lay participation at the international level will only be effective if
it is accompanied by similar efforts at the parish, diocesan and national
levels.
In seeking increased
lay participation and co-responsibility in the work of the Curia, greater
efforts are needed to include the voices of lay women. Pax Romana is proud of
the contribution we have made through one of our former leaders, Rosemary
Goldie, the first lay woman to work in the Curia. Unfortunately, the number of
lay women, and in particular those who are not in consecrated life, in the
Curia has not grown much since Paul VI appointed Goldie to her position.
International lay associations can help the Curia to identify qualified women
with diverse experiences to share their gifts with the Church.
“Let us not reduce the
involvement of women in the Church, but instead promote their active role in
the ecclesial community. If the Church, in her complete and real dimension,
loses women, she risks becoming sterile.” Pope Francis (Address to Brazilian
Bishops 28 July,
2. SUPPORTING
INTERNATIONAL LAY ASSOCIATIONS
We believe that the
Curia has great potential to help strengthen and support the work of
international lay associations. Unfortunately, many of the international lay
associations, and in particular the youth-led movements, are struggling to find
financial support for their apostolic efforts—this is despite vibrant
initiatives locally and nationally in many parts of the world. More is needed
than occasional thematic conferences and large-scale events like the World
Youth Day.
While these are important, special attention should be given to
support the day-to-day apostolic efforts and training programs of international
associations of young people, students, and young professionals. These
movements go a long way to build solidarity and counteract what Pope Francis
has called the “globalization of indifference.” A liaison position or specific
office within the curia (more robust and proactive than the present youth desk
of the Pontifical Council for the Laity) could serve as a resource for the
apostolic initiatives and movements aimed at forming responsible lay leaders in
Catholic social doctrine.
In Gaudium et Spes
(no.90), the Council Fathers recognized the importance of international lay
associations and called for greater financial and logistical support for their
work. To this end, the Pius XII Foundation was created to aid the global work
of international Catholic organizations. Last year, we were informed that the
work of the Pius XII Foundation, an important source of support for many
movements, would be suspended. We propose a reconsideration of the decision to
suspend the Foundation or the creation of another fund that would support the
international secretariats of the lay movements.
“Catholic associations
on an international level which can contribute in many ways to the building up
of a peaceful and fraternal community of nations. These should be strengthened
by augmenting in them the number of well qualified collaborators, by increasing
needed resources, and by advantageously fortifying the coordination of their
energies…
Gaudium et Spes, no. 90
As the largest
community in the world, the Catholic Church has a tremendous potential to
transform the global reality in light of the Gospel of Christ. The
international associations of the faithful in all their forms contribute
greatly to this potential. Greater support, coordination and consultation of
these bodies by the Curia is an important task as we seek to engender and
strengthen a common sense of mission.
3. RELOCATION OF
CERTAIN CURIAL OFFICES OUTSIDE OF ROME
As a witness and a sign
of the universality of the Catholic mission and communion, we believe that
certain curial offices could be relocated to major centers outside of Europe
(e.g., Bogotá, Hong Kong, Nairobi, Beirut). We recognize the positive
logistical benefits of having all curial offices in the same location and the
symbolic power of being in proximity to the Chair of St. Peter.
However, we
believe that the relocation of some curial offices and/or the opening of
satellite offices outside of Europe would be an important witness to the call
and example of the Holy Father for the church to “go to the margins” and for
the church to become a “church that is poor and for the poor.” For example, the
Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue could consider an office in
Asia. Such actions, we believe, would be positively received throughout the
Church and would be echo the efforts of other international institutions (e.g.,
United Nations, major NGOs) to decentralize their coordinating structures.
This effort should be
separate from but also linked to the decentralization of specific tasks along
the principles of subsidiarity and solidarity. Regional and national episcopal
conferences have a great potential to strengthen communion, dialogue and
co-responsibility among all the people of God.
Where do I find hope?
In the poor Jesus, Jesus who made himself poor for us...Poverty demands that we
sow hope. It requires me to have greater hope, too. This seems a little hard to
understand, but I remember that Fr Arrupe once wrote a good letter…He spoke of
how the social problem must be studied. But in the end he told us, he said to
all of us: “Look, it is impossible to talk about poverty without having an
experience with the poor”... It is impossible to talk about poverty, about
abstract poverty.
That does not exist! Poverty is the flesh of the poor Jesus
in this hungry child, in the sick person, in these unjust social structures.
Go, look over there at the flesh of Jesus. But do not let yourselves be robbed
of hope. Pope Francis, (Address to the Students of the Jesuit Schools of Italy
and Albania, 7 June, 2013
The article was authored by Dr Kevin Ahern, a member of Pax Romana in the US.
The article was authored by Dr Kevin Ahern, a member of Pax Romana in the US.
If you are interested
in joining Pax Romana ICMICA Africa, please contact Fredrick Wamalwa on
fredwamalwa@yahoo.co.uk
