RT Article
T1 Le laïcat et les laïcs dans l'Eglise
JF Gregorianum
VO 68
IS 1/2
SP 157
OP 185
A1 Beyer, Jean 1914-2002
LA French
PB Ed. Pontificia Univ. Gregoriana
YR 1987
UL https://ixtheo.de/Record/1789354250
AB On the eve of the Synod on the Vocation and Mission of the Laity in the Church and in the World it seems useful to reexamine the doctrine of Vatican II on the laity. The Council gave no definition of the layperson; the description it provides maintains as major element the former negative definition. It failed to clarify the secular condition of the laity; nor did it succeed in explaining the secularity of Secular Institutes which, moreover, are treated right to the end as religious institutes. Such uncertainties and shortcomings call for a reexamination of the ecclesial structure in which the notion of «Christifidelis» will lay the foundation for all Christian life; the hierarchical Orders are at the service of the entire People of God, without any categorial opposition between them. There remains to be seen whether the laity would not be better situated if all the «Christifideles» were distinguished as various «Orders of persons» in the Church. This would make it possible to situate in a more satisfactory manner their action in the world. Further clarifications are therefore required in order that the People of God may take on its true physiognomy instead of remaining subject to speculative distinctions which up to now have resulted in opposition.