Rights & Duties of the Faithful

Who are the Faithful? Persons who comprise the church (c. 96, 205)Persons who comprise the church (c. 96, 205) Incorporated by Baptism (c. 849)Incorporated by Baptism (c. 849) Full communion (c. 205; cf. Acts 2:42)Full communion (c. 205; cf. Acts 2:42) –Faith –Sacraments –Governance Juridic personhood, ergo subject of rights and obligations (c. 96)Juridic personhood, ergo subject of rights and obligations (c. 96) Laity and sacred ministers (c )Laity and sacred ministers (c )

All Christians Are Christ’s Faithful Exercise the mission of the church in the worldExercise the mission of the church in the world The Great Church subsists in the Roman Catholic ChurchThe Great Church subsists in the Roman Catholic Church –Maintain view of Cyprian of Carthage that extra ecclesia nulla salus –But the Roman Catholic Church is not identical to the Great Church Christian persons can neither pre-exist the Church nor exist apart from itChristian persons can neither pre-exist the Church nor exist apart from it

Religious Women & Men Are counted among the laity (c. 207 §2)Are counted among the laity (c. 207 §2) Live distinct lifestyle from “secular” laityLive distinct lifestyle from “secular” laity Within parameters of the rule of their orders, share same rights and privileges as other laityWithin parameters of the rule of their orders, share same rights and privileges as other laity

Catholic “Bill of Rights” 1.Equal in dignity and activity (c. 208) 2.Right to evangelize (c. 211) 3.Right to make needs and desires known to their bishops (c. 212 §2) 4.Right to hold own opinions re: the good of the church and to express those views to their bishops and other church members (c. 212 §3)

Catholic “Bill of Rights” 5.To receive the ministry of the word and sacraments (c. 213) 6.To worship God according to their own Rite (c. 214) 7.Assembly (c. 215) 8.To engage in apostolic activities (c. 216) 9.To a Christian education (c. 217)

Catholic “Bill of Rights” 10.Theologians’ right to freedom of inquiry and expression (c. 218) 11.Freedom to choose state in life (c. 219) 12.Right to protection of reputation and privacy (c. 220) 13.Right to vindicate and defend rights in ecclesiastical court (c. 221 §1)

Catholic “Bill of Rights” 14.Right to fair trial (c. 221 §2) 15.Right to protection from punishment except according to Canon Law (c. 221 §3) All should be interpreted in the context of the common good, the rights of others, and a person’s duties toward them (c. 223) Problem of implementing rights, recourse for violation

Obligations of a Catholic 1.Maintain communion with the Church (c. 209 §1) 2.Fulfill canonical duties (c. 209 §2) 3.Lead holy lives (c. 210) 4.Evangelization (c. 211) 5.Follow their bishops (212)

Obligations of a Catholic 6.Express opinions regarding the good of the church (c. 212 §3) 7.Contribute to the maintenance of the church (c. 222 §1) 8.Promote social justice (c. 222 §2) Cf. previous model of “pray, pay, and obey”

Discussion A.Which rights do you see as most important? 1.Why? 2.Are there any you would want to add or subtract? B.Which obligations do you see as primary? 1.Why? 2.Are there any you would want to add or subtract?

Rights & Duties of the Laity Proper: 1.Actively share in the apostolate (c. 225 §1), especially with respect to the temporal order (c. 225 §2) 2.Prerogatives of parents (c. 226) 3.Political responsibilities (c. 227)

Rights & Duties of the Laity Relative to the knowledge of the faith 1.Learning and teaching theology (c. 229) 2.Serving in certain ecclesiastical offices, functions, and advisory roles (c. 228) 3.Be adequately prepared for those offices, functions, and advisory roles (c. 230) 4.Be appropriately remunerated for such work (c. 231)

Lay Associations (c ) 1.Non-canonical 2.Private 3.Private with juridic personality (c ) 4.Public--Established by ecclesiastical authority (c. 305) 1.E.g., religious orders 2.Secular affiliates (“third order”)