Responsibility and Role of the Laity The new

Responsibility and Role of the Laity "The new evangelization that can make the twenty-first century a springtime of the gospel is a task for the entire People of God, but will depend in a decisive way on the lay faithful being fully aware of their baptismal vocation and their responsibility for bringing the good news of Jesus Christ to their culture and society. " Pope John Paul II The Role of the Catholic Laity Ad Limina Visit, June 5 th, 1998

Responsibility and Role of the Laity It is the laity's "special vocation. . . to seek the kingdom of God by engaging in temporal affairs and directing them according to God's will” Lumen Gentium, The Dogmatic Constitution of the Church, Vatican II "the laity must take up the renewal of the temporal order as their own special obligation. . . ” [It is] “. . . so much the duty and responsibility of the laity that it can never be performed properly by others" [emphasis added -- Note not by bishops, not by priests -- it is clearly the laity's responsibility] The Apostolate of the Laity , Vatican II

Responsibility and Role of the Laity The "new state of affairs today both in the Church and in social, economic, political and cultural life, calls with a particular urgency for the action of the lay faithful. . . It is not permissible for anyone to remain idle" “In particular the lay faithful are called to restore to creation all its original value“ ". . . a faith that does not affect a person's culture is a faith not fully embraced, not entirely thought out, not faithfully lived. ' " Christifideles Laici, Apostolic Exhortation Pope John Paul II

Responsibility and Role of the Laity “The direct duty to work for a just ordering of society is proper to the lay faithful. " [emphasis added -- Note again, not bishops, not priests -- it is clearly the laity's responsibility] “A just society must be the achievement of politics, not of the Church. ” “The Church's social teaching argues on the basis of reason and. . . what is in accord with the nature of every human being. ” Deus Caritas Est

Responsibility and Role of the Laity Pope Benedict XVI Lay Associations and Eccessial Movements Blessed John Paul Catechesis in Audience: Lay Groups Promote the Mission of the Church (March 23, 1994) Catholics for the Common Good has followed the guidance from this Catechisis, Lumen Gentium, The Apostolate of the Laity, and Christifideles Laici in forming this apostolate for the Evangelization of Culture. Canon Law: Associations of the Christian Faithful (Cann. 298 - 329)