[Mga Obligasyon at Karapatan ng Isang Katoliko]
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| Lay Catholics Exercising their Devotion To Jesus and the Saints |
Like any subject of a kingdom, we too have our obligations and rights as members Catholic Church. These obligations and rights are written down in the Canon Law of the church. Laws that govern the Catholic Church. Let us only concern ourselves on the Obligations and rights of the Lay Catholic since Canon Law itself is a bit complicated to discuss further. [Bilang mga Katoliko tayo ay may mga obligasyon at karapatan bilang mga miyembro ng simbahang Katolika at ang mga ito ay nasasaad sa mga batas ng simbahan na kung tawagin ay Batas Kanoniko. Ating alamin bilang mga layko.]
Canon law is the body of laws and regulations made by or adopted by ecclesiastical authority for the government of the Catholic Church and its members.
The first set of rights are found
within Canons 208 – 223: The Obligations & Rights of All the Christian
Faithful. These rights do not only apply to the Laity but all members of the
Church. In summary they are. Ito ang mga Batas Kanoniko para sa lahat ng miyembro ng Simbahan:
Canon 211 All the Christian Faithful (i.e. the Laity which
includes Religious & the Clergy) have a right and a duty to spreading the gospel to the whole world. [Kanoniko 211: Lahat ng mga Kristiyano ay may karapatan at tungkulin na ipakalat ang ebanghelyo sa buong mundo.
Canon 212
2. The Christian Faithful have the right to make known their needs and desires
to the "pastors of the Church". For Clergy "pastors" could
be their Dean, Bishop, and Archbishop and for Laity this could be their Parish Priest, Dean, or Bishop. [Kanoniko 212-2: Ang mga Kristiyano ay may karapatan na ipaalam ang kanilang mga pangangailangan at kagustuhan sa mga pastor ng simbahan. Ang mga pastor ay pwedeng ang kanilang mga Pari, Obispo.]
3. The Christian Faithful have the right "…and even at times the duty" to give "…the sacred pastors their opinion on matters which pertain to the good of the Church and to make their opinion known to the rest of the Christian faithful". [Kanoniko 212-3 Ang mga Kristiyano ay may karapatan at tungkulin din na magbigay sa kanilang mga pasto ng kanilang mga opinyon sa mga bagay na makagagaling sa simbahan at ipahayag ang kanilang mga opiyon sa mga kapwa nila Kristiyano.]
Canon 213 The Christian Faithful have
the right to receive assistance from the "sacred pastors"
"…especially the word of God and the sacraments." [Kanoniko 213 Ang Kristiyano ay may karapatan ng makatangap ng tulong galing sa mga sagradong pastor lalo na ang mga sakramento at salita ng Diyos]
Canon 214 The Christian Faithful have the right to worship
according to approved rites and to "…follow their own form of spiritual
life so long as it is consonant with the doctrine of the Church." [Kanoniko 214 Ang Kristiyano ay may karapatan ng sumamba na naayon sa mga aprobadong ritwal at sundin ang kanilang pansariling istilo ng buhay ispiritual hangat ito ay naayon sa mga doktrina ng simbahan]
Canon 215 The Christian Faithful are free to "…found and
direct associations for purposes of charity or piety or for the promotion of
the Christian vocation in the world and to hold meetings for the common pursuit
of these purposes." [Kanonio 215 Ang Kristiyano ay libreng magtatag, magbuo at mga direkta ng mga samahan para sa mga kawanggawa at gawaing banal o kaya ay ang pagtaguyod sa mundo ng mga Kritiyanong Bokasyon at tumawag ng mga pagpupulong para nagkakaisang layunin.]
It is of note these do not have to be approved by the
ecclesiastical authorities subject to Canon 2016 on the use of the name Catholic in their group, society, or association. [Hindi na kailangan ang pahintulot ng mga otoridad ng simbahan kung hindi gagamit ng pangalan na Katoliko sa kanilang samahan.]
Canon 216 The Christian Faithful have the right to
"…promote or sustain apostolic action even by their own
undertakings". However, "…no undertaking is to claim the name
Catholic without the consent of competent ecclesiastical authority." [Kanoniko 216. Ang Kristiyano ay may karapatan na magtaguyod ng mga apostoladong pagkilos sa pamamagitan ng kanilang sariling kusa subalit walang pagkilos ang pwedeng gawin na gagamitin ang pangalang Katoliko ng walang pahintulot ang mga otoridad ng simbahan.]
Canon 217 The Christian Faithful have
the right to a Christian education "…by which they are to be instructed
properly". [Kanonilo 217 Ang mga Kristiyano ay may karapatan na mabigyan ng eduksayon sa pagiging Kristiyano at dapat silang mabigyan ng tamang katuruan"
Canon 218 The Christian Faithful who are involved in
"the sacred disciplines" have the right to inquire and express
opinions in their area of expertise as long as they are in accordance with the
magisterium of the Church.
Can. 219 The Christian Faithful have
the right not to be forced into a particular "state of life."
Can. 220 Nobody is permitted to
"illegitimately" harm another person’s reputation or to
"injure" a person’s right of privacy.
Canon 221 Right to fair trial of charges for or against either by civil authorities or ecclesiastical authorities.
1. The Christian Faithful have the right to "vindicate" and defend the rights they possess in Canon Law within a "competent ecclesiastical forum". This is most often going to be the Diocesan Tribunal which mainly oversees marriage annulment applications.
2.The Christian Faithful have the right to a fair trial by any "competent authority". This extends to civil and criminal trials as well as within ecclesiastical jurisdiction.
3. The Christian Faithful can only be punished with "canonical penalties" (such as ex-communication) "according to the norm of law", that is they cannot be bestowed arbitrarily. Any ecclesiastical charges against an individual must be fully proven.
Obligations/rights
of the lay Christian faithful
The second set of rights are found
within Canons 225 – 231: The Obligations and Rights of the Lay Christian
Faithful.
These rights are specific to the
Laity. In summary they are:
Canon 226
2 Parents have the right to educate their children.
2 Parents have the right to educate their children.
Canon 227 The Laity should have the
same freedoms as their fellow citizens. However, these freedoms should be
enjoyed and lived out in accordance with the "spirit of the gospel"
and the magisterium of the Church. At the same time the Laity should avoid any
suggestion their opinions are necessarily the teaching of the Church.
Canon 228
1. Suitable qualified Lay persons can be appointed by "the sacred pastors" to those "…ecclesiastical offices and functions which they are able to exercise according to the precepts of the law."
2. Lay persons who "…excel in necessary knowledge, prudence, and integrity" can be appointed by "the pastors of the Church" as experts and advisors, even in councils according to the norm of law."
Canon 229
1. Lay persons have the right to "...acquire knowledge of Christian doctrine."
2. Lay persons also possess the right to acquire that fuller knowledge of the sacred sciences and attend "…ecclesiastical universities and faculties or in institutes of religious sciences."
3. If the"… prescripts regarding the requisite suitability have been observed", they "...are also qualified to receive from legitimate ecclesiastical authority a mandate to teach the sacred sciences."
Canon 230
1. Lay men can be admitted "…through the prescribed liturgical rite to the ministries of lector and acolyte." Nevertheless, the conferral of these ministries does not grant them the right to obtain support or remuneration from the Church.
2. Lay persons can fulfill the function of lector "…by temporary designation". All lay persons can also undertake "…the functions of commentator or cantor, or other functions, according to the norm of law."
3. When required, such as a lack of Ministers, "…lay persons, even if they are not lectors or acolytes, can also supply certain of their duties, namely, to exercise the ministry of the word, to preside offer liturgical prayers, to confer baptism, and to distribute Holy Communion, according to the prescripts of the law."
Canon 231
2. Without prejudice to the prescript of ⇒ can. 230, §1 where, for example, a lay person works full-time for the Church they "…have the right to decent remuneration" by the Church for roles they undertake for Her. "They also have a right for their social provision, social security, and health benefits to be duly provided".
It is of note that there are a
number of fundamental rights stipulated here – the right to privacy, the right
to fair trial, etc. Such rights are also reflected in many civil Human Rights
Charters such as the European
It is of particular note that many
of the more specific rights outlined above are conditional and require approval
by the appropriate "ecclesiastical authority".
Lay
associations
There are many thousands of lay
associations existing at a local, diocesan, national / bishops conference or
international level. The cover the whole spectrum of Catholic Lay life, from
their Faith, Social Action, to the Professions in which they work.
The majority have sought and have
been given backing by the appropriate "ecclesiastical authority".
However, others have invoked the right contained in Canon 215 to form a
Catholic Association without ecclesiastical approval. In these circumstances
the only prescription on them is that they cannot use the term
"Catholic" in their name. (Can. 216)
The Pontifical Council for the Laity
is the body responsible for approving those Catholic Associations that exist at
an international level. That is if the association want to seek approval from the council however there are many Catholic Associations that don't use the name Catholic and they don't have to get the council's approval under Canon 215.
The structure of some Religious
Orders allow for Lay branches to be associated with them. These are often
referred to as Third Orders.
Some of the best known Catholic Lay
Associations are Knights of Columbus, Knights of Columba, Catenians, Knights of Malta. There are also many lay Catholic guilds and associations representing a
whole range of professions.
Under Canon 2015, we invoke our right to form the One True Faith Society without ecclesiastical approval. Under Canon 2016 we are not using the name Catholic in our official association. Our reason for such is to maintain our independence so as to have a balance view and understanding of our Catholic Faith.
Copyright © 2016 by ONE TRUE FAITH SOCIETY
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