A Concise Guide to Your Rights in the Catholic Church

by McKenna, Kevin E.

• ISBN13: 9781594710797
• ISBN10: 1594710791
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2006-07-21
• Publisher: Ave Maria Pr

Summary

This practical, sound reference book decodes complex Roman Catholic Church law and doctrine with the goal to help educate Catholics so that a more just church might emerge. McKenna tackles key pastoral issues in Q & A format and concisely presents the procedures that are in place for Catholics wishing to vindicate their rights. This is the third book in The Concise Guide Series.

Table of Contents

Introduction	15	(6)
Abbreviations	21	(4)
1. The Development of Human Rights in the Catholic Church	25	(6)
2. The Christian Faithful	31	(14)
Rights of the Christian Faithful	31	(8)
Free to make known their needs	31	(1)
Manifest opinions to pastors and other Christian faithful	32	(1)
Receive assistance from the sacred pastors	33	(1)
Right to worship God according to prescriptions of their own rite	34	(1)
Found and govern their own associations	34	(1)
Promote and sustain apostolic action	35	(1)
A Christian education	35	(1)
Lawful freedom of inquiry	36	(1)
Choose a state of life	36	(1)
Good reputation and protection of privacy	37	(1)
Vindicate and defend rights	37	(1)
Law applied equitably	38	(1)
Not to be punished except in accordance with law	39	(1)
Obligations of the Christian Faithful	39	(6)
Cooperate in building up the Body of Christ	39	(1)
Maintain communion with the Church	40	(1)
Lead a holy life and promote the growth of the Church	40	(1)
Promote the message of salvation	41	(1)
Follow their pastors	41	(1)
Assist with needs of the Church	42	(1)
Promote social justice	42	(1)
Consider the common good when exercising rights	43	(2)
3. The Laity	45	(10)
Rights of the Laity	46	(5)
Married Christians have right to imbue the world with their charisms and spirituality	46	(1)
Educate their children (right and obligation)	46	(1)
Freedom as citizens	47	(1)
Assume ecclesiastical offices when qualified	47	(1)
Act as advisors to pastors	48	(1)
Acquire knowledge of Christian doctrine, acquire knowledge of and right to teach the sacred sciences	49	(1)
Decent remuneration suited to their condition	50	(1)
Obligations of the Laity	51	(4)
Work as individuals or in groups to proclaim the divine message	51	(1)
Perfect the temporal order	51	(1)
Build up the kingdom by the married vocation, family	52	(3)
4. The Clergy	55	(12)
Rights of the Clergy	56	(2)
Remuneration	56	(1)
Social assistance and benefits	56	(1)
Provisions for family (permanent deacons)	57	(1)
Sufficient period for vacation	57	(1)
Certain office, ministry, or function to be exercised in the service of the Church	57	(1)
Special obligations of the Clergy	58	(9)
Reverence and obedience to the Roman Pontiff	58	(1)
Faithfully fulfill duties given to them and thus foster peace and harmony	58	(1)
Bond of brotherhood and prayer	59	(1)
Promote mission of the laity	60	(1)
Pursue holiness by:	60	(1)
Nourishing spiritual life from word and table
Utilizing mental prayer
Reciting liturgy of the hours
Making annual retreats
Perfect and perpetual continence and due prudence	61	(1)
Right to associate with others for ends appropriate to their state (secular)	62	(1)
Simple style of life:	62	(1)
Community life when possible
Wear suitable ecclesiastical garb
Avoid those things unbecoming to their clerical state
Not to leave diocese for extended periods
Not to run for elected office, be involved in political parties or trade unions, engage in business or trade without permission, or be agents for goods belonging to laypersons	63	(1)
Not to engage in military service without permission of ordinary and should make use of proper exemptions for duties alien to clerical state	64	(3)
5. Some Specific Issues in the Church Today	67	(22)
Rights and the Sacraments	67	(8)
Can parents be denied the sacrament of baptism for their children?	67	(1)
Can confirmation or first communion be delayed after an older child has been baptized?	68	(1)
Can a diocese establish a policy for the reception of confirmation before first holy communion?	68	(1)
Can cohabiting Catholics be denied the sacrament of marriage?	69	(1)
Can the Christian faithful be denied the Church's funeral rites?	70	(1)
Can Catholics who serve in public office be denied the Eucharist for expressing opinions contrary to the Church's teaching?	71	(2)
What are the rights of bishops, priests, deacons, and the laity in the proper celebration of the liturgy?	73	(2)
The Right of the Christian Faithful to Assemble	75	(2)
Are members of the Christian faithful permitted to organize and petition for changes in Church structure or teaching?	75	(1)
May the Christian faithful publicly express dissent from Church teachings?	76	(1)
The Patrimony of the Church	77	(2)
May parishioners hold title to the assets of a parish?	77	(1)
May parishioners overrule a decision by a bishop to close a parish?	78	(1)
The Rights of Employment in the Church	79	(2)
May members of the Christian faithful form or join labor unions?	79	(1)
What are the employment rights and obligations of those employed by the Church for service and ministry?	80	(1)
Do those who minister in the Church have a right to employment benefits and pension?	80	(1)
The Rights of the Clergy	81	(5)
When may a pastor be removed from a parish by the bishop? What legal procedures must be followed?	81	(2)
What rights are accorded to those who make allegations of sexual misconduct against a cleric? What obligations do they have?	83	(1)
What rights are accorded to those accused of sexual misconduct? What obligations do they have?	84	(1)
What are the rights and obligations of a bishop in dealing with an accusation of sexual offense against a minor by a member of the clergy?	85	(1)
The Right to a Catholic Education	86	(3)
Must parents provide for a Catholic education for their children?	86	(1)
Who decides when a child is properly prepared to receive a sacrament?	87	(2)
6. Vindicating Rights in the Church	89	(10)
Due Process	89	(1)
The Church's preference for peaceful settlements
Gospel solution: Matthew 18:15-18
Equitable solution by mutual consultation
A diocesan office can be established for seeking equitable solutions	90	(1)
Dispute Resolution in the Archdiocese of Milwaukee	90	(3)
The Process	90	(2)
Advantages	92	(1)
Disadvantages	92	(1)
Hierarchical Recourse in the Catholic Church	93	(6)
Conditions	93	(2)
The Procedure	95	(1)
Written request	95	(1)
Time limits	95	(1)
To whom is recourse made	95	(1)
Thirty days for response	95	(1)
Suspension of the decree	96	(1)
Recourse to Roman Congregation	96	(1)
Advocate assistance	97	(1)
Response of the hierarchical superior	97	(1)
Appeal to the Apostolic Signatura	97	(1)
Violation of law or procedure	98	(1)
No automatic suspension of previous decision	98	(1)
Appendices
1. The Canons, Code of Canon Law, 1983	99	(14)
The Obligations and Rights of All the Christian Faithful	99	(4)
The Obligations and Rights of the Lay Christian Faithful	103	(3)
The Obligations and Rights of Clerics	106	(7)
2. Hierarchic Recourse against a Diocesan Bishop	113	(1)
3. Judicial Trial Procedures	114	(7)
Canonical Trial	115	(2)
Presentation of Proof	117	(2)
Decision	119	(2)
Glossary of Terms	121	(3)
Sources and Recommended Readings	124	(2)
Index	126