Two refrains often lost amid the accolades for the papal visit is that the trip itself was, as Pope Benedict said, a chance for a new beginning, a first step, not the end of a process. The second refrain was the critical role of advocacy groups like Voice of the Faithful (VOTF)--as well as the victims' groups and yes, the media--to making this visit a success. Without their faithful commitment, this moment of justice and catharsis would not have happened.
The work, however, is ongoing. VOTF pointed out some steps to take in a full-page ad in The New York Times ahead of the papal visit, and they are continuing their work with a online petition. Their campaign is also receiving support in articles and editorials, such as this one in yesterday's Hartford Courant.
The first steps were a success, built on years of diligent labor. Now comes the hard part.
Add to Del.icio.us
Add to Technorati
Add to Digg
Add to Newsvine
Add to Facebook
Add to StumbleUpon
Participation of the laity in decision-making does not mean a "vote" on every item. It means that competent lay people, with expertise in -- for example -- the financial area, are expected to lend their talents to making decisions within dioceses and parishes about financial issues. It means that parishioners are involved in selection of parish and diocesan pastoral councils. It means that parishioners are engaged in finding solutions for dropoffs in attendance, inadequate evangelization of the young, or other problems within their parishes. The "structure" modeled by the early Church (1st and 2nd century) is not the hierarchical, clergy-centric structure we have today. Remodeling the structure to utilize the many gifts the laity bring to the Church IS following the path Jesus set for us.
These people are not protected from error. The Magisterium is.
The Roman faithful joined together are changing the Roman Catholic Church and so make the Holy Spirit redundant.
Sacrilege detroys even the ashes in the fireplace.
I wonder if the infallible magisterium has decided which financial accountability model is best, how to reverse declining attendance, etc.
Oh my, the laity should return to pray, pay and obey. Sorry, too late. Catholics deserve to be treated as adults for a change with minds and consciences and talents they have a right and obligation to use by virtue of their baptism.
Ordination does NOT automatically confer infallibility on every utterance and action of a cleric. If so, the Holy Spirit has been AWOL for centuries.