News: Statements by church men about the war in Iraq

“A mechanism must be created that will allow lay people to voice their views in proper areas.”

There have been a number of statements by church men about the war in Iraq. They have generally followed the pattern of papal statements, liberal in nature,  generally condemnatory of any type of  preemptive behavior. They have been issued by recent popes and curial officials as well as local bishops. In other words, all official statements have been issued by male authorities and clerics.

As a matter of course, these statements, whatever their intrinsic worth, have been generally ignored by the public. That is part of a treatment experienced by all official Catholic statements on any number of matters in recent days.

At the same time, different Catholic personalities, mostly male, have spoken out on the matter. These statements cover the entire range between liberal and conservative. Each statement is judged mostly by the political and social inclinations of their authors, more than by the inherent worthiness of the positions. These have counted more than the religious persuasions of the authors.

That is hardly surprising. An individual might be Catholic, but also, he is not an official spokesperson for the Church. Even in these days of ‘the emerging layperson that is to be expected. That position is reserved for male clerics.

And, that highlights a problem.

A clearer distinction must be made between areas that are within the competency  of clerics, and those that are outside their inherent competency. When it comes to areas outside their competency, clerics must be more guarded in their statements. A mechanism must be created that will allow lay people to voice their views in proper areas. That will not be an easy task. The day when only clerics make statements for the entire Church on all subjects is over. But, it has been the case for so long that changes in these areas will prove to be difficult.