The Promises of Vatican II, Unfulfilled

Many of us in Voice of the Faithful were young men and women during the time when the Second Vatican Council was called by Good Pope John in October 1962. John XXIII said that he wanted the council convened because it was time "to open the windows of the Church to let in some fresh air." There was a new sense of expectation and hope in the Church then. By the late '60s, the laity in the U.S. and elsewhere started seeing some of the revisions in the liturgy with the vernacular Mass and the priest facing the people.

During the Vatican sessions, the famous document, Lumen Gentium, the Dogmatic Constitution of the Church, was promulgated which included an enhanced role of the laity in the mission of the church. Through its baptismal responsibility as lay leaders in the administration of the church, the laity was considered vital in the operation of the local churches. It said: "This Church of Christ is truly present in legitimate local congregations of the faithful, which, united with their pastors, are themselves called churches in the New Testament. " (L.G.26) Does present-day Rome generally regard the laity as leaders in the administration of the Church? Is there a continued sense of expectation and hope in the Church today? I think not.
The vernacular Mass with the priest facing the people was probably the most visible change to the laity just after the last session of the Council. It was also promulgated that the Church would continue to provide versions of the Bible in the "mother tongues" of the faithful, and both the clergy and laity were to make Bible study a central part of their lives. Today, unfortunately, there are rumblings in Rome about the celebrant during Eucharist facing away from the people. The new translations for the Mass put out by Rome recently appear to be less than understandable to the people and further separate us from the priest celebrating Mass.

We in VOTF are lay Catholics who are among the most educated and responsible in the history of the Church. Yet, when we have advocated for more lay control over the administration of the Church, by and large we have been met with clerical cynicism and silence. Why? I think it has to do with the hierarchy's fear of loss of control. The all-male celibate culture refuses to give up some of its power to the laity because they will lose absolute control over the functioning of the Church. The eminent writer, Eugene Kennedy has said the Church is the last surviving, medieval institution in the world, and while it is slowly dying, it will not relinquish its power to anyone who is not clerical. How sad for them, I think.

But there is still hope in the local churches. In Seattle, Father Michael Ryan has objected to the new English translation of the Mass. His courageous stance is a wonder to behold. He has even asked all thinking Catholics to join him at www.whatifwejustsaidwait.org

Would you consider adding your name to the other 12,000 Catholics who have joined Father Ryan in his request to put a halt on this disastrous translation? All you have to do is click on Father Ryan's website above and follow the prompts. By adding your name to the many others who think this translation does not enhance the message of Jesus in the Gospels, you will be saying to Rome that we will not tolerate a return to a pre-conciliar Church.

It is wonderful that we in VOTF can join with this courageous, level-headed priest in our mutual attempt to suggest to Rome that its heavy handed policies need to be changed. It's time the local pastor and the laity have some input on subjects like the new Mass translation (as Father Ryan is doing) and even local election of Bishops, which VOTF is logically embracing to take back our church from the autocrats.

Edward J. Thompson, Sr.