US priests urge bishops to allow lay-led parishes

The Association of US Catholic Priests, (AUSCP), the largest association of priests in the United States is calling upon Catholic bishops in the United States to consider employing properly qualified lay pastoral workers to administer parishes. In a resolution, passed at the AUSCP convention last June, entitled 'Pastoral Care in and Through Priestless Parishes', they state:

Passing on the faith demands more, not less, personal presence of authorized pastoral ministers. As the shortage of priests becomes more severe, much of the pastoral leadership and ministry that Catholics received from priests in the past will no longer be provided. We conclude that the Catholic Church USA urgently needs already now well prepared pastoral ministers who, working collaboratively with canonical pastors, can know, guide and accompany the faithful on their journey of faith via parish communities.

WHO: The persons: Who are the potential pastoral leaders?

"After this the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them two by two ahead of him to every town and place where he was about to go". (Lk. 10:1)

There are many persons presently active in our parishes, whether pastoral staff members, deacons, or members gifted with charisma for ministry. We speak of proven individuals. Given the local nature of this ministry, it would be advisable to choose from the involved parish itself, or a neighbouring one. The pastoral leaders will be appointed by the bishop and be under the supervision of a canonical pastor nearby, while still havingthe flexibility to make ordinary decisions and actually lead the parish according to its gifts and needs. Canonical Pastors too will need training and a desire to embrace this manner of ministry. Diocesan Offices must be included in this training also. Most especially, the people of God in a parish must be involved in this process and own it or it will be a failure from the outset.

To read on see: www.uscatholicpriests.org/pastoral-plan-for-priestess-parishes