Vatican II, in its Decree on the Apostolate of the Laity (Apostolicam
Actuositatem), explains that, "The hierarchy should promote the apostolate of
the laity, provide it with spiritual principles and support,
direct the
conduct of this apostolate to the common good of the Church, and attend to the
preservation of doctrine and order.
Indeed, the lay apostolate
admits of different types of relationships with the hierarchy in accordance with
the various forms and objects of this apostolate. For in the Church there are
many apostolic undertakings which are established by the free choice of the
laity and regulated by their prudent judgment. The mission of the Church can be
better accomplished in certain circumstances by undertakings of this kind, and
therefore they are frequently praised or recommended by the hierarchy.
No
project, however, may claim the name 'Catholic' unless it has obtained the
consent of the lawful Church authority.
Certain forms of the apostolate
of the laity are given explicit recognition by the hierarchy, though in various
ways.
Because of the demands of the common good of the Church, moreover,
ecclesiastical authority can select and promote in a particular way some of the
apostolic associations and projects which have an immediately spiritual purpose,
thereby assuming in them a special responsibility. Thus, making various
dispositions of the apostolate according to circumstances, the hierarchy joins
some particular form of it more closely with its own apostolic function. Yet the
proper nature and distinctiveness of each apostolate must be preserved, and the
laity must not be deprived of the possibility of acting on their own accord. In
various Church documents this procedure of the hierarchy is called a
mandate.
Finally, the hierarchy entrusts to the laity certain functions
which are more closely connected with pastoral duties, such as the teaching of
Christian doctrine, certain liturgical actions, and the care of souls.
By virtue of this mission, the laity are fully subject to
higher ecclesiastical control in the performance of this work.
As
regards works and institutions in the temporal order, the role of the
ecclesiastical hierarchy is to teach and authentically interpret the moral
principles to be followed in temporal affairs.
Furthermore, they have the
right to judge, after careful consideration of all related matters and
consultation with experts, whether or not such works and institutions conform to
moral principles and the right to decide what is required for the protection and
promotion of values of the supernatural order." (No. 24).
And in No.
25, this same document says that, "
Special care should be taken to select
priests who are capable of promoting particular forms of the apostolate of the
laity and are properly trained. Those who are engaged in this ministry
represent the hierarchy in their pastoral activity by virtue of the mission they
receive from the hierarchy.
Always adhering
faithfully to the spirit and teaching of the Church, they should promote proper
relations between laity and hierarchy."
Always adhering
faithfully to the spirit and teaching of the Church, they should promote proper
relations between laity and hierarchy. Is St. Cecilia's "rainbow ministry," based out of Saint Cecilia's parish in Boston,
faithful to this charge? The Blog for this apostolate has linked directly to another
Blog which states that people, "..ought to question Rome’s faulty assumptions
and, indeed, Rome’s own 'objective disorders' which more often resemble a
severely dysfunctional family than the Body of Christ. For centuries, Catholics
were also taught to fear left-handed people as 'servants of the devil,' and the
left-handed were burned at the stake along with faggots and heretics. (The word
faggot, literally “burning bundle,” derives from these church burnings of gay
men).
Now we know that homosexuality is no more 'disordered' or 'sinful'
than left-handedness. Medical and scientific research strongly point to
sexual orientation as determined at birth; that it’s nature over nurture for
most people.
Therefore, homosexual orientation, like left-handedness, is
a Divinely created, normal variation within natural law. As such, gay
people face the same moral challenges as everyone else."
This is not the
teaching of the Church. This is not the mind of Christ. Furthermore, such an
attitude is highly disrespectful of the Church's hierarchy. This is most
unfortunate. The Catechism of the Catholic Church, citing Canon 212 of the Code
of Canon Law, says that, "In accord with the knowledge, competence, and
preeminence which they possess, [lay people] have the right and even at times a
duty to manifest to the sacred pastors their opinion on matters which pertain to
the good of the Church, and they have a right to make their opinion known to the
other Christian faithful, with due regard to the integrity of faith and morals
and reverence toward their pastors, and with consideration for the common good
and the dignity of persons." (CCC, 907).
An apostolate which promotes
homosexuality as a "Divinely created" normal variant of human sexuality is not
demonstrating "due regard to the integrity of faith and morals." An apostolate
which promotes a website which refers to the Church's teaching as being imbued
with "faulty assumptions" and which accuses the Teaching Church of "objective
disorders" is not faithful to Catholic teaching and is not promoting proper
relations between laity and hierarchy.
Cardinal Sean O'Malley knows about this dissident group and its homosexual agitprop. But he does nothing. Apparently His Eminence is "okay" with souls being led to Hell.
In two posts which may be found at the Facebook page for Saint Cecilia's "Rainbow Ministry," the organization's hostility toward the Magisterial teaching of the Church is on full display (apparently with the full blessing of Cardinal Sean O'Malley:
Join us at our continuing speaker series Wednesday May 28th and hear Father Matt Malone S.J. speak on "The Five Words that Changed Our Church: WHO AM I TO JUDGE?"
The Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, in its document entitled
Considerations Regarding Proposals to Give Legal Recognition to Unions Between
Homosexual Persons, warns that
even where homosexual unions have been legalized,
"clear and emphatic opposition is a duty." (No. 5). This important document
stresses that, "any kind of formal cooperation in the enactment or application
of such gravely unjust laws" and even any "material cooperation on the level of
their application" must be avoided. "In this area," states the document,
"everyone can exercise the right to conscientious
objection."
Considerations makes it abundantly clear that, "The Church
teaches that respect for homosexual persons cannot lead in any way to approval
of homosexual behavior or to considerations of homosexual unions." (No. 11). In
other words, there can be no doubt that all Catholics have a moral duty to
oppose the homosexual agenda. Homosexual activists are not properly disposed to
receive the Eucharist, which is "properly the sacrament of those who are in full
communion with the Church." (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1395; Canon 915,
CIC).
