Ed. Note: Last week, Pistrina established that Sede priests have no supernatural or canonical right to govern a chapel (no office = no jurisdiction). Additionally, Traddie clergy most certainly have no natural right to control assets (no skills/experience/aptitude = no privilege). This week, the Reader will look briefly at the spiritual benefits of lay governance in the Sede Vacante.
While lay management assures the protection of the faithful's investment and rights, it also offers an enormous advantage to the priest. It frees him to devote all his energies (and often very modest abilities) to the spiritual welfare of the people whom he serves. While laymen and -women manage the finances, hire and fire, direct maintenance/building projects, and oversee all the business affairs of the chapel, the priest, unburdened by time-consuming administrative cares, will have many more hours available each day for counseling, home visits, catechism, confessions, evening devotions, preparation for feast days, personal spiritual reading, meditation, fervent prayer, recollection, and much needed remedial academic study.
Another advantage to lay governance of the business end of a chapel is the reduction of friction between the priest and the faithful. He can rise above the normal clash wills that comes about as human beings with differing motives and lights strive to choose between conflicting goods. In fact, he will be in the best position to arbitrate and guide, since all sides will more than likely regard him as neutral. The result will be an increase in his standing in the eyes of the people. Nothing, as many Traddies will tell you, is more unedifying than a priest politicking, conniving, and squabbling with laity over mundane matters.
The most important benefit, however, is that lay governance removes the priest from the temptation to lose himself in money matters. Without the dispiriting hindrance of earthly affairs ever on his mind, the priest can dedicate himself to sanctifying the members of his chapel and himself. We have all seen the effects of the world on Traddie priests and bishops who insist on limitless control of the faithful's assets, and we have seen how traditional laity almost always come out on the losing side of the issue when their priest has no check on his will -- or his control of the finances.
The conclusion is simple: During the Sede Vacante, lay governance is not only rational and just but is, above all, charitable.
While official jurisdiction is not possessed by ANY traditional clergy, this does not then necessarily devolve to the laity. Moreover, there is a limited, de facto jurisdiction that the traditional clergy must exercise for good order. Any excesses with clerical control pale in comparison to rule by the laity. Besides, it is still obvious that your beef with traditional clergy is that they, and not you, have received Orders.
ReplyDeleteThey didn't say control necessarily fell to the laity. What they said was that it didn't necessarily fall to the priest because there is no jurisdiction now (de facto or otherwise).
ReplyDeleteLay governance can assure good order as well as a priest -- often times better because many laymen have more experience in managing large groups of people with tact.
As to "excesses," when did a lay group ever empty out a chapel's building fund? I'm afraid history and the facts are on the laity's side.