From the Pope’s homily in a visit to one of the parishes in the Diocese of Rome:
“ROME, MARCH 7, 2010 (Zenit.org).- Benedict XVI today told parishioners of a Roman parish that there is a need to change mentalities, so as to see laypeople as co-responsible for the Church, not merely as collaborators of the clergy.
…
The Pontiff expressed his satisfaction that the community “wishes to promote, in regard to the vocations and the role of consecrated persons and the laity, the co-responsibility of all the members of the People of God.”
To do this, he said, “demands a change in mentality, above all with regard to the laity, ‘moving from considering them ?collaborators? of the clergy to recognizing them as truly ?co-responsible? for the being and action of the Church, promoting a mature and dedicated laity in this way.'”
This view of the laity appears to contradict the vision of a certain Rochester bishop. I do hope he’s reading the Pope’s sermons, as he might learn something about the proper role of the laity in the Church’s mission. We’re not all called to stand at the altar, but we all have the duty to spread the Catholic faith.
See also: Ten Reasons.
Tags: Bishop Clark, Orthodoxy at Work
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