Church law (canon 229) gives laypeople the right to receive doctrinal instruction at the highest level, as well as the right to teach the sacred sciences: theology, philosophy, canon law, scripture and Church history. A canonical mission or mandate is required to teach the sacred sciences. This right refers to both men and women.
If laypeople are to exercise the role proper to them, though, they must be prepared. In this regard, the Second Vatican Council taught that this preparation must be practical, experiential and theoretical. Not only do laypeople have the right to do this, they have the duty. Current society has an urgent need for educated and articulate laity who will function in this role, especially in politics and in the media, to assist the Church in fulfilling its teaching role. (Canon law (747) states, “The Church, to which Christ the Lord has entrusted the deposit of faith so that with the assistance of the Holy Spirit it might protect the revealed truth reverently, examine it more closely, and proclaim and expound it faithfully, has the duty and innate right, independent of any human power whatsoever, to preach the gospel to all peoples, also using the means of social communication proper to it. It belongs to the Church always and everywhere to announce moral principles, even about the social order, and to render judgment concerning any human affairs insofar as the fundamental rights of the human person or the salvation of souls requires it.”
Laypeople may also teach in theological schools, a role no longer reserved to clergy. There are two conditions: first, they must be academically qualified, and second, they must have a mandate. Both clergy and laypeople have the right to teach the sacred sciences if they are authorized by the ecclesiastical authority concerned.
Church law also lays out which liturgical functions may be performed by laypeople.
Canon 230 has three sections: First, it specifies that laymen who possess the age and qualifications established by decree of their local conference of bishops can be admitted to the ministries of lector and acolyte. Second, laymen and laywomen can serve as lectors and cantors. And third, “when the need of the Church warrants it and ministers are lacking,” laypeople can exercise the ministry of the word, offer liturgical prayers, confer baptism and distribute Holy Communion, according to the prescripts of the law.
Interpretation of this canon continues to evolve. It shows that both laypeople and ordained ministers may hold some liturgical offices.
The Vatican’s Congregation of Divine Worship permits local conferences of bishops to establish ministries in their own regions. These ministries often function in the absence of a priest.
The Holy See has also granted permission for girls to be altar servers. This decision was confirmed by Pope John Paul II in 1992. Admission to ministries must be guided by the local bishop’s conference, which gives each diocesan bishop the faculty to decide whether to permit women to serve at the altar.
In the United States, ministries open to the laity are not limited to those established by law. Parishes have established additional ministries, such as greeters and ushers.
Canon 231 reads that laypeople who dedicate themselves exclusively to Church service or apostolic work, either permanently or temporarily, are obliged to acquire appropriate formation so they may conscientiously, earnestly and diligently fulfill their role. Further, with civil law being observed, laypeople have the right to decent remuneration to provide for their needs and those of their family. They also have the right to social security and health benefits.
Excluded from this canon are those who provide professional or technical services under service contracts, as these are governed by civil law.
In conclusion, canonist John Beal wrote that respect for the rights of the faithful enables them to participate in the life of the Church and so promotes and strengthens ecclesial communion. The faithful are valued members of the community.
Recently the Church has been active in mobilizing the faithful for the activities central to its mission. The Church’s teaching mission is largely in the hands of dedicated laypeople. The Church’s liturgical life – the principal form of its sanctifying mission – is carried out by a host of talented and dedicated lay ministers. Church governance also has lay professionals.
The recognition and protection of the rights of the faithful are essential for these works to continue. In simple terms, “People of God, these are your rights, exercise them.”
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.