Lay Faithful in Public Life - 2005 (BJMM018)

Lay Faithful in Public Life

Dr. Edward Edezhath

[Edezhath, Edward. “Lay Faithful in Public Life”. The Living Word. Sep – Oct 2005, Pg. 312 – 319.]

The graces and charisms of the Holy Spirit received in Baptism are to be nurtured in a context of complementarity in a community and placed at the service of the society at large, resulting in mature Christian leadership ready to offer service in the wider world. Isaiah chapter 11 is an excellent roadmap for the life of a baptized Christian. The branch from the root of Jesse is first filled with the seven-fold graces of the Holy Spirit (v. 1-5), ‘girdled with righteousness’ and prepared for the mission. In the second step the Christian is geared up for the task in the company of the ‘strangest animals’ and filled with a new ‘knowledge of the Lord’ (v. 6-9). Finally, he will be called to be a leader and ‘ensign’ to a number of nations (v. 10-16).

People touched by the Lord and filled with His Spirit should come into the Lord’s ‘holy mountain’, the BCCs. You shall know the tree from its fruits and here the effectiveness of the Christian community should be measured by the genuine fruits of leadership it provides to the world outside, that is, the individuals who become ‘ensign’ to the nations. Christians truly groomed in the Beatitudes (Mt. 5:3-11) become leaders set apart for the wider society. Jesus uses the words ‘the world’ and ‘the earth’ to refer to the extensive fields of activity of His men and women who would give ‘glory to the Father in heaven’ (Mt. 5:13-16).

Why Should the Laity be in the Public Arena?

‘The earth is the ‘Lord’s’ and everything in it (Ps. 24). Knowing this well and eagerly praying and waiting for His rule and Kingdom to come on the earth, the Church enters the world to win over the whole of human society for the Lord. The Church also learns that the lay people are specially called to carry out the mission of working in the public field: “The unique character of their vocation, which is in a special way to ‘seek the Kingdom of God by engaging in temporal affairs and ordering them according to the plan of God, (Christifideles Laici, 9).

Seeing the degeneration and corruption in the society as well as in the political, economic and cultural fields, we cannot passively endure it nor diffuse our anger by criticizing it in our private circles. Christians should be motivated and formed to take up leadership in these fields.

But should we have anything to do with politics? If a ‘good’ lay person enters into the political arena, very naturally eyebrows are raised and there would be serous reactions.  But there is an undeniable fact: Politics is the mainstream of the society. Most of the key decisions and actions that affect the whole of the country are taken at this level. We cannot leave it completely for unscrupulous and selfish people. It is our responsibility and duty that people of integrity, vision and commitment enter the field of politics. The Church speaks of witnessing Christ to the wider society through a variety of means like inter-religious dialogue, inculturation and option for the poor and suffering as important ingredients of the life of a Christian in the modern world. More than anything else an active involvement in public life is the sure path to such a life of witness of an active Christian.

Globalization and urbanization have made people more and more alienated and self-centered. People are not only obsessed with personal gains but even a very narrow spirituality of personal success and salvation is fast gaining ground. Our family units are the best forums to wake up people from this apathy to a new vision of public involvement and concern for the neighbor, the society and the nation.

What the Church Expects

In Christifideles Laici, Pope John Paul II states emphatically: “In order to achieve their task directed to the Christian animation of the temporal order, in the sense of serving persons and society, the lay faithful are never to relinquish their participation in “public life,” that is, in the many different economic, social, legislative, administrative and cultural areas, which are intended to promote organically and institutionally the common good. The Synod Fathers have repeatedly affirmed that every person has a right and duty to participate in public life, albeit in a diversity and complementarity of forms, levels, tasks and responsibilities”.

The Pope goes on the caution and exhort us: “Charges of careerism, idolatry of power, egoism and corruption that are oftentimes directed at persons in government, parliaments, the ruling classes, or political parties, as well as the common opinion that participating in politics is an absolute moral danger, does not in the least justify either skepticism or an absence on the part of Christians in public life. On the contrary, the Second Vatican Council’s words are particularly significant: ‘The Church regards as worthy of praise and consideration the work of those who, as a service to others, dedicate themselves to the public good of the state and undertake the burdens of this task’” (42).

Can a Politician become a Saint? Yes, or no?

St. Thomas More, made patron of statesmen and politicians by Pope John Paul II in 2000, is a perfect example to prove that there need be no conflict between temporal and spiritual duties. He is a portrait of courage, because he lived courage in every aspect of his life: in the diligent attention to his family members and their education, in the study of the issues in his professional and political work, in the care for his neighbors and friends and in his love for Christ. He began his day in prayer and study of the Word of God, even during the busiest days as Lord Chancellor. He regularly attended Mass; he had a lifelong devotion to the Eucharist; and he frequented the Sacrament of Penance, especially before making any major decision. He also led the family prayers when he was at home, which included the rosary. In the spirit of penance, he wore a hairshirt next to his skin, fasted often, slept on bare ground and used a long for his pillow. He was a man of inflexible character, had great devotion to truth, justice and fidelity to God’s laws. Notwithstanding all these, he was a joyful and humorous person.

 Thomas More resigned his office as Chancellor on the ground that he was at variance with the King on the question of divorce and on the usurpation of the ecclesiastical powers. After he refused to take oath abjuring the authority of the Pope and to acknowledge the King as the supreme head of the Church, More was imprisoned. “I would rather die than betray my conscience”, accepting the verdict More said. The Spirit of God gave him the strength and boldness to face death with tremendous courage. As he laid his head on the block, he told the executioner: “Wait a moment, sir; I will fix my bread. It must not be cut for it has not committed any crime”. The character of More made him a great citizen, a great statesman, a great son of God, a great father and a great husband.

In May 2004 in Paris the diocesan process for the beatification of Mr. Robert Schuman has been completed. The depositions of the witnesses and the valuation of his writings have been collected. The documents come to five thousand pages and weigh five quintals! These documents have been sent to the Congregation for the Cause of Saints. They are now awaiting the stipulated miracle to proceed with the process. If that comes through quickly, the famous External Affairs Minister of France will become a “blessed”! This could easily become a world event that would loudly proclaim the Christian roots of not only of Europe of yesterday but of modern Europe as well. Schuman was the first to propose way back on 9 May 1950, that the enemies of World War II, France and Germany, come together for the mining of coal and the production of steel. This reconciliation came about, and they were the first to form the nucleus of the present European Community of nations.

 Schuman saw his political activity as a true apostolate. He applied to political life the same principles that he used in private life. He was a man of deep interior life. He never saw any contradiction between political activity and Christian life. He, however, saw that they were two realities. He was a daily communicant and was deeply convinced that he was an instrument in the hands of God: “We are all instruments in the hands of God, even though very imperfect” is how he wrote in 1960. He was very forthright in some statements that would be considered outrageous now: “Democracy owes its existence to Christianity!” On 19^th March 1958, he declared in the European Parliament: “All the countries of Europe are steeped in Christian civilization! It is the sould of Europe and we need to restore that to her.”

 Action Plan for Laity for Public Involvement

1.  It is important that our people see public involvement as a call from God and the duty of every Christian. When the specific call for service comes, they should be prepared to discern the voice of the Lord and respond to it. Such spiritual orientation and Bible study are important for helping laity to be involved in the society.
2. The Family Apostolate in collaboration with social service department of the diocese could take initiative for a groundwork for lay involvement in public life.
3. Conscientize on the need and responsibility, e.g., organize a socio-political training (Neyyatinkara diocese 3 yr (36 session) continuous sessions resulting in 81 getting elected to Grama Sabhas, Thiruvananthapuram Archdiocese also has a well worked out plan)
4. Work with the voters' lists:

Have a master list in Diocesan / parish central committees

Use photocopies at the unit levels

Have volunteers to check the list and include / get ID cards 

5. Encourage people to be involved 

Go for Grama Sabha meetings

Know about the developments

Express approval / protest

Raise the issues of people in need 

6. Educated people and professionals are increasingly becoming inactive due to various reasons. Peer groups are important for involvement. Give encouragement, arrange groups and occasions for involvement.
7. Voting is a very important right. Arrange preparatory session and discussions before election.
8. Which candidate to support? There will be candidates from different parties. The criteria should be integrity of person, issued involved, the persons commitment to faith, morals and the community and other qualifications.
9. Offer trainings for the prospective leaders in different areas 

Dynamics and issues of society at large

Different acts and provisions, live Panchayathi Raj Act

Uprightness and integrity.

The faith perspective of society and public leadership

Skills of leadership

10. Have readymade modules for training. Use NCOs life ‘Sahayee’. Have prepared leaflet and our own resource persons equipped. SHGs and lay associations could be used to impart this training.
11. Women, prepared for and inclined to public leadership, are very much in need in today’s political scene. The presence of Christian women there, in all the fronts, is one the increase. Motivate, train and provide assistance.
12. Have informal forums and occasional gatherings of politically inclined persons.