Home
National Voice
Diocesan Voice
Vatican II
Other Voices
Join Us
Contact Us
News
Catholic Web
Coming Events
Reports&Minutes
Recommendations

 

Vatican II and the Voice of the Faithful

During the first thousand years, the laity often played a strong role in the governance of the Church.
In Italy in the fourth century, St. Ambrose, whose feast was recently celebrated, became a bishop. It was an extraordinary event, indeed heretical by today's standards. For one, he was a layman. And two, he was elected by popular vote!
In many other instances, during the first millenium, the laity played a significant role in the guidance and governance of the Church.
It was not to endure. During the next thousand years, whatever power the laity enjoyed was gradually drained from them and appropriated by an increasingly fearful and secretive hierarchy, its select members struggling to cope with the evolving and sometimes hostile world surrounding them.
Enter Vatican II
But then came Vatican II which sought to restore the balance. Regrettably, some of the central promises of Vatican II have not been fulfilled.
Nontheless, those decrees are still vital and binding, and they call for vigorous participation of the laity in the governance of the church.
Here is one of those charges to us:
"…Since, in our own times, new problems are arising and very serious errors are circulating which tend to undermine the foundations of religion, the moral order, and human society itself, this sacred synod earnestly exhorts the laity-each according to their own gifts of intelligence and learning-to be more diligent in doing what they can to explain, defend, and properly apply christian principles to the problems of our era in accordance with the mind of the church…" Decree on the Apostolate of the Laity-Apostolicam Actuositatem, Chapter 2, paragraph 6

Recognizing the diverse forms that can be instruments of the Holy Spirit, Vatican II goes on to state that

"… The laity can engage in their apostolic activity either as individuals or together as members of various groups or associations…" id, Chapter 4, aragraph 15
***

"In the church there are many apostolic undertakings which are established by the free choice of the laity and regulated by their prudent judgment. " Chapter 5, paragraph 24

While recognizing some collaborative roles with the clergy, Vatican II expressly cautions against clerical interference:

"…Yet the proper nature and distinctiveness of each apostolate must be preserved, and the laity must not be deprived of the possibility of acting on their own accord. ..",ibid (emphasis supplied)

Leaving no doubt about our call to action, the Council finally exhorts us in these powerful words:

The most holy Council, then, earnestly entreats all the laity in the Lord to answer gladly, nobly and promptly the more urgent invitation of Christ in this hour, and the impulse of the Holy Spirit. *** Once again He sends them into every town and place where He will come (cf. Lk 10:1) so that they may show that they are co-workers in the various forms and modes of the one apostolate of the church, which must be constantly adapted to the new needs of our times. Ever productive as they should be in the work of the Lord, they know that their labor is not in vain. (cf. 1 cor 15:58) Exhortation Chapter 5 Paragraph #33


So, the faithful can safely speak out. We are not heretics, we are not subversives. We are faithful Catholics who love our Church and are not willing to stand by silently while grave injustices mock our faith, debilitate our moral authority, stigmatize our faithful clergy and disillusion our faithful.

 
Vatican II Documents

The link below will take you to the Catholic Information Network which has a search facility and maintains all of the
Vatican II documents