Laypeople in Discernment and Governance of the Catholic Church: Current Situation and Prospects
Abstrakt
This article explores lay participation in discernment and governance across various aspects of the Church’s life, considering the prospects for development and the theological limits of the proposed solutions. First, the current situation is established by outlining the roles of the pope, bishops, parish priests, lay faithful, and consecrated persons. Subsequently, the paper examines the foundations of the theology of the laity. The next part of the paper presents a discussion of the theological boundaries of lay co-responsibility: the distinction between ordained and non-ordained ministries, the need for discernment rooted in the Holy Spirit, and adherence to the Magisterium of the Church. The final section offers a preliminary outline of potential structural reforms to enhance lay participation in the Church. These include the introduction of synodality at every level of ecclesial life, lay involvement in the selection of candidates for Church offices (bishops and parish priests), and accountability of all ministers, including the clergy, before the community. The study involved an analysis of documents, as well as a synthesis and comparison of data relating to theological and pastoral approaches. The paper concludes with a call for collaboration between clergy and laity (including consecrated persons) in discernment and governance within the Church, while maintaining the hierarchical-communal and sacramentalcharismatic structure of the Church.
Słowa kluczowe:
clergy, laity, synodality, discernment, governance, ecclesiologyBibliografia
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Uniwersytet Śląski w Katowicach https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5634-3078
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