Catholic laity speaks out

Press, Volume CXII, Issue 33067, 7 November 1972, Page 15

Catholic laity speaks out

Roman Catholic lay people in the Christchurch Diocese took another step towards a more vocal role in their Church, when the Diocesan Lay Assembly held its first meeting at the week-end. The assembly will combine with clergy and religious to form the Christchurch Diocesan Pastoral Council, to advise the Bishop (the Most Rev. B. P. Ashby). Old worship wanted Sixty-nine remits were sent to the assembly by parish councils in the Christchurch diocese. Many reflected a growing wish to have the Church more involved with political and social issues, but there were several remits which asked the Church to restate traditional beliefs and rulings, and -to reintroduce some of the old forms of worship. Thirteen remits from nine parishes dealt with poverty and injustice overseas, urging more Church and Government aid, particularly for the Pacific islands, Ugandan Asians, and the Chatham Islands. The attitude towards Church involvement in everyday affairs was seen in one remit: “That consideration be given to the importance of political and social action by

the Church on social issues of the day.” Unease at the Church’s apparent contradictory attitude to over-population and family planning was reflected in one remit, which said “The Church cannot afford to ignore the projected doubling of the Earth’s population by 2000,” and asked that its attitude to the problem be clearly stated. Remits on abortion asked for a firm restatement of the Church’s position, and for measures to meet the statements from “liberalists” on abortion and other moral issues. But the assembly rejected a remit which asked the council to redefine and restate the role of women in all aspects of marriage. Retirement sought Dealing with the role of the clergy in the Church, remits asked for priests to retire from parish administration at 60 and that parishes which had become socially and spiritually starved be given up to young priests, and thus revitalised. Remits requested greater co-ordination among parishes, and one pressed for the elimination of the unequal distribution of wealth. One protested against extravagance in the design of churches, and another asked for an end to the building of “one-purpose” churches. The plea evident from some

lay people for a return to the older liturgies and forms of worship was epitomised in one remit which asked for the main crucifix in a church to have the body of Christ on it.