Clergy And Laity Of The Roman Catholic Church
The canon law of 1983 the Roman Catholic Church precisely defines these two categories (canon 207 1):
"By divine institution, there is in the church among the faithful, sacred ministers who are also called law clerks, and others who are also called laity. "
In 1997, the Holy See says:
"While the common priesthood of the faithful is exercised by the unfolding of baptismal grace, a life of faith, hope and charity, life in the Spirit, the ministerial priesthood is at the service of the common priesthood, it is relative to the deployment the baptismal grace of all Christians Ordination and PriesthoodBy the reception of baptism and confirmation , all Catholics share in the priesthood of the faithful who made "priests, prophets and kings." In addition, the Sacrament of Orders gives some members a ministerial priesthood. These two priesthoods are different and complementary.
In addition, under certain vows, baptized undertake some special way to serve God, the Church and the world, especially in religious orders.
We can distinguish:
- ordained ministers,
- the baptized laity
- consecrated persons, who may be either clergy or laity.
Ordained ministers
The ministers are ordained bishops , priests or deacons. All were called by God and the church and are ordained by a bishop. Their role is to watch over the church, praying, teaching, conferring the sacraments and living evangelical way. The priests and deacons always act in communion with their bishop.
Since 1079 , the celibacy required of priests in the Roman Catholic Latin Rite. The Eastern Catholic rite allows the ordination of married men, but unmarried or widowed priests can not marry, and only single individuals may be appointed bishops.
The permanent diaconate was restored at the Council of Vatican II. The deacons may be married but can not marry once they are ordered (unless waived by the Holy See).
Are exempt from celibate priests Anglican high church who have recently joined the Roman Church on the issue of female priests and Protestant pastors when they align the Roman Catholic Church and are admitted to the priesthood.
For reasons clearly stated in the canon law of the Church, a cleric can be suspended a divinis, which means he can no longer administer the sacraments. It is usually the result of a crime according to law, see Jean Kamp , Eugen Drewermann or Marcel Lefebvre. See also the case of Ludmila Javorova woman "ordained priest" in the Roman Catholic Church in Czechoslovakia in 1970 , with this distinction, however, that the Church affirms categorically the invalidity of ordinations of women, and therefore they are not "clergy" and can not be "outstanding".
Baptized lay
They testify to the faith that gives them life by living in the world. They also participate in the task of the Church by participating in the catechesis and the liturgy (reading, singing, music, floral decoration).
The baptized married watch over their domestic church.
Baptized devoted
They dedicate their lives to God, the Church and the world by engaging with vows to live the Gospel. They live alone (hermits) or communities ( Cenobites ). These wishes often include vows of poverty, obedience and chastity. In particular, orders and religious congregations, consisting of monks and nuns and monks and nuns follow a rule. Clerics of these institutes are the regular clergy.
The rise of the laity
The idea that the laity must play a role in the Roman Catholic Church and is not a passive subject is emerging not only in 1920, takes place with the education associations immediate post-war are the JOC and JAC (created as a counterpart to the corresponding communist movements), and grows under the leadership of those who are the architects of Vatican II. It is timely when the church was hit hard by a crisis of vocations (currently less than an ordination by department and year, for example, France).
The canon law of 1983 recognizes fully the right of association of the faithful within the Church. These associations can be either private or public if they are acting on behalf of the Church. Private associations of the faithful may recognize or approve their statutes by the diocesan bishop, who can also grant them legal personality within the Church. Title V of Book II of the canon law of the Church is entirely devoted to the associations of the faithful (canons 298-329).
Main article: Catholic reformers.References
- Instruction on Certain Questions Regarding the Collaboration of Lay Faithful in the Ministry of Priests, ed. Libreria Editrice Vaticana, Vatican City, 1997
- r Presbyterorum Ordinis , decree on 7 December 1965
See also
- Government of the Roman Catholic Church
- priestly celibacy
- Priestly celibacy in the Catholic Church
- Ordination of women in the Catholic Church
- Robert Arbrissel
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