But this was written July 20, 2020! And under Pope Francis. And reported, reportedly with crocodile 🐊 tears, by the National Chismatic Reporter, NCR:
Vatican reiterates: Catholic parishes should be led by priests, not laypeople
Jul 20, 2020
ROME — The Vatican reiterated July 20 that Catholic parishes should normally be led by priests, stressing to bishops across the world that arrangements for religious sisters or laypeople to head local parish communities can only be made when there is a shortage of ordained ministers.
In a new instruction meant to guide bishops who are undertaking parish reform efforts, the Congregation for Clergy emphasizes the Catholic Church's teaching that only a priest serving as a pastor can exercise "the full care of souls."
Arrangements for non-ordained people to lead parishes can be done only when there is a lack of priests, and "not for reasons of convenience or ambiguous 'advancement of the laity,'" the congregation states.
2 comments:
Many years ago we had a presentation at my then parish about how there would eventually be so few priests that parishes would be led by laypeople. The question of consecration and Mass came up immediately. I was surprised that there was not a simple answer, rather a long explanation of what the liturgy led by civilians would be like, including the distribution of consecrated hosts stored away for that purpose. That struck me as a teaching moment to allow laity who desire a more prominent role in the Mass. that was about the time flocks of ‘extraordinary’ ministers of Holy Communion and permanent deacons became a thing.
We have a laity "ego problem" in my parish. Everyone thinks they are in charge and it is especially apparent and uncomfortable during our weekday morning mass. These are not people I would want to see leading a liturgy. Frankly, I wouldn't want to see ANY lay person leading a liturgy. If we cannot have a priest than an ordained deacon is the solution. I would not want to see the liturgy lead by a nun either given that the "sisters" in our diocese think they should be able to be "Fathers" and would welcome the opportunity to prove their point. Polyester Pants suits and all. The solution is to beg God for more vocations to the priesthood and diaconate.
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