According to Church law (Canon 212), the Christian faithful are bound to Christian obedience to their pastors (pope, bishops, local pastors) inasmuch as they represent Christ as teachers of the faith. The faithful are free to make known to the pastors of the Church their needs, especially spiritual needs, and their desires according to their knowledge, competence and prestige. They have the right – and at times the duty – to make known to their sacred pastors their opinion on matters pertaining to the good of the Church, and to make their opinion known to the rest of the faithful.
The right to express personal opinions concerning the good of the Church is more than about voicing complaints. It includes consultation. Opinions are not to be random or capricious, but acknowledged. Integrity of faith and customs is an unconditional limit of this right.
A limit of this right includes matters of faith authentically taught by the Magisterium. If the activity of this right leads to an offense or breach of another right, the rights of free speech and free opinions do not exist.
Examples of a structured forms of consultation include the Council of Priests (Canon 495-502), the Diocesan Pastoral Council (Canon 536), the Parish Finance Council (Canon 537), etc., and, more recently, the consultation questionnaire distributed to every diocese in advance of the 2015 Synod of Bishops on the Family.
Not to be overlooked is that the attitude of pastors is not simply one of obedience, but of trust. All pastors should be willing to listen to lay people, giver brotherly consideration to their wishes, and recognize their experience and competence in different fields of human activity (Canon 592).
These rights and Church laws flow from the teachings of Vatican II – in one of its principal documents, "Lumen Gentium" ("Light of the Nations"):
"The laity have the right, as do all Christians, to receive in abundance from their spiritual shepherds the spiritual goods of the Church, especially the assistance of the word of God and of the sacraments. They should openly reveal to them their needs and desires with that freedom and confidence which is fitting for children of God and brothers in Christ. They are, by reason of the knowledge, competence or outstanding ability which they may enjoy, permitted and sometimes even obliged to express their opinion on those things which concern the good of the Church. When occasions arise, let this be done through the organs erected by the Church for this purpose. Let it always be done in truth, in courage and in prudence, with reverence and charity toward those who by reason of their sacred office represent the person of Christ.
"The laity should, as all Christians, promptly accept in Christian obedience decisions of their spiritual shepherds, since they are representatives of Christ as well as teachers and rulers in the Church. Let them follow the example of Christ, who by His obedience even unto death, opened to all men the blessed way of the liberty of the children of God. Nor should they omit to pray for those placed over them, for they keep watch as having to render an account of their souls, so that they may do this with joy and not with grief.
"Let the spiritual shepherds recognize and promote the dignity as well as the responsibility of the laity in the Church. Let them willingly employ their prudent advice. Let them confidently assign duties to them in the service of the Church, allowing them freedom and room for action. Further, let them encourage lay people so that they may undertake tasks on their own initiative. Attentively in Christ, let them consider with fatherly love the projects, suggestions and desires proposed by the laity. However, let the shepherds respectfully acknowledge that just freedom which belongs to everyone in this earthly city
"A great many wonderful things are to be hoped for from this familiar dialogue between the laity and their spiritual leaders: in the laity a strengthened sense of personal responsibility; a renewed enthusiasm; a more ready application of their talents to the projects of their spiritual leaders. The latter, on the other hand, aided by the experience of the laity, can more clearly and more incisively come to decisions regarding both spiritual and temporal matters. In this way, the whole Church, strengthened by each one of its members, may more effectively fulfill is mission for the life of the world." (37)
Editor's note: This series about the rights and obligations of the Christian faithful, as set forth in canon (Church) law, has been written especially for the Catholic News Herald by Mercy Sister Jeanne-Margaret McNally. Sister Jeanne-Margaret is a distinguished authority on canon law, author of the reference guide "Canon Law for the Laity," and frequent lecturer at universities and dioceses. A graduate of The Catholic University of America with multiple degrees including a doctorate in psychology and a licentiate of canon law (JCL), she is a psychologist for the Tribunal of the Diocese of Charlotte and a judge in the Metropolitan Tribunal of the Archdiocese of Miami.