TOWARDS A RESPONSIBLE ENGAGEMENT OF ORDAINED MINISTERS IN SOCIO-POLITICAL ISSUES
Keywords:
Authority in the Church, Ministerial Ethics, Power in the Church, Social Ethics, VirtuesAbstract
This essay seeks to investigate the involvement of the Church’s ministers in socio-political issues. In particular, it seeks to answer two questions: why must ordained ministers speak about socio-political issues? And how should they engage in socio-political issues? In the course of answering these questions, I argue that because of their special share in the prophetic mission of Christ, ordained ministers cannot remain indifferent towards socio-political issues. At the same time, because of their power to define reality and their being “symbolic representatives of the holy” and “officers of the Church,” they must engage these issues responsibly. Three virtues were proposed as helpful for this task: courage, humility, and prudence.
References
Benedict XVI, Deus Caritas Est [Encyclical Letter on Integral Human Development in Charity and Truth], Vatican City: Libreria Editrice Vaticana, 2005, nos. 28–29. Direct quotations from no. 28.
Bernas, “Fundamentals of Church-State Relations.”
CBCP, Acts and Decrees of the Second Plenary Council of the Philippines, Pasay City, Philippines: Paulines Publishing House, 1992), nos. 340 and 348–53. Henceforth PCP-II. See also, Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace, Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church, Vatican City: Libreria Editrice Vaticana, 2004, nos. 565–74.
Henceforth CSDC.
Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments, Homiletic Directory, Vatican City: Libreria Editrice Vaticana, 2014, no. 4.
David Hollenbach, Justice, Peace, and Human Rights: American Catholic Social Ethics in a Pluralistic World, New York: Crossroad, 1988, 210.
Donald Senior, Jesus: A Gospel Portrait, New and Revised Edition, Mahwah, N.J.: Paulist Press, 1992, 120–21.
Francis, Amoris Laetitia [Post-Synodal Apostolic Exhortation on Love in the Family], Vatican City, Libreria Editrice Vaticana, 2016, no. 37.
Francis, Evangelii Gaudium [Apostolic Exhortation on the Proclamation of the Gospel in Today’s World], Vatican City: Libreria Editrice, Vaticana, 2013, no. 139.
James F. Keenan, SJ, Virtues for Ordinary Christians, Kansas City, MO: Sheed & Ward, 1996, 83–84.
James Keenan, Moral Wisdom: Lessons and Texts from the Catholic Tradition, Quezon City, Philippines: Claretian Publications, 2004, 148. Keenan cites Summa Theologica I-II, q.65.1, ad.
Joaquin Bernas, “Fundamentals of Church-State Relations,” Opinion, Philippine Daily Inquirer, 8 March 2010.
Joe Trull and James Carter, Ministerial Ethics: Being a Good Minister in a Not-So-Good World, Nashville, TN: Broadman and Holman, 1993, 158–59; Senior, Jesus: A Gospel Portrait, 121.
Karen Lebacqz, Professional Ethics: Power and Paradox, Nashville, TN: Abingdon Press, 1992, 116–18.
Kenneth Himes, 101 Questions & Answers on Catholic Social Teaching, 2d ed., Makati City, Philippines: St. Pauls, 2014, 18–20.
Lito Zulueta, “Stage Set for Classic Church-State Clash,” News, Philippine Daily Inquirer, 19 February 2017.
Marvin Krier Mich, The Challenge and Spirituality of Catholic Social Teaching, rev. ed., Quezon City, Philippines: Claretian Publications, 2012, 18–20.
Oscar Cruz, Churchmen & Politicians, Manila: CBCP Communications Development Foundation, 2010, 130.
Richard Gula, Just Ministry: Professional Ethics for Pastoral Ministers, Mahwah, N.J.: Paulist Press, 2010, 17.
Terry Muck, “Holy Indignation,” Christianity Today (21 October 1988) 14–15.
Bernas, “Fundamentals of Church-State Relations.”
CBCP, Acts and Decrees of the Second Plenary Council of the Philippines, Pasay City, Philippines: Paulines Publishing House, 1992), nos. 340 and 348–53. Henceforth PCP-II. See also, Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace, Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church, Vatican City: Libreria Editrice Vaticana, 2004, nos. 565–74.
Henceforth CSDC.
Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments, Homiletic Directory, Vatican City: Libreria Editrice Vaticana, 2014, no. 4.
David Hollenbach, Justice, Peace, and Human Rights: American Catholic Social Ethics in a Pluralistic World, New York: Crossroad, 1988, 210.
Donald Senior, Jesus: A Gospel Portrait, New and Revised Edition, Mahwah, N.J.: Paulist Press, 1992, 120–21.
Francis, Amoris Laetitia [Post-Synodal Apostolic Exhortation on Love in the Family], Vatican City, Libreria Editrice Vaticana, 2016, no. 37.
Francis, Evangelii Gaudium [Apostolic Exhortation on the Proclamation of the Gospel in Today’s World], Vatican City: Libreria Editrice, Vaticana, 2013, no. 139.
James F. Keenan, SJ, Virtues for Ordinary Christians, Kansas City, MO: Sheed & Ward, 1996, 83–84.
James Keenan, Moral Wisdom: Lessons and Texts from the Catholic Tradition, Quezon City, Philippines: Claretian Publications, 2004, 148. Keenan cites Summa Theologica I-II, q.65.1, ad.
Joaquin Bernas, “Fundamentals of Church-State Relations,” Opinion, Philippine Daily Inquirer, 8 March 2010.
Joe Trull and James Carter, Ministerial Ethics: Being a Good Minister in a Not-So-Good World, Nashville, TN: Broadman and Holman, 1993, 158–59; Senior, Jesus: A Gospel Portrait, 121.
Karen Lebacqz, Professional Ethics: Power and Paradox, Nashville, TN: Abingdon Press, 1992, 116–18.
Kenneth Himes, 101 Questions & Answers on Catholic Social Teaching, 2d ed., Makati City, Philippines: St. Pauls, 2014, 18–20.
Lito Zulueta, “Stage Set for Classic Church-State Clash,” News, Philippine Daily Inquirer, 19 February 2017.
Marvin Krier Mich, The Challenge and Spirituality of Catholic Social Teaching, rev. ed., Quezon City, Philippines: Claretian Publications, 2012, 18–20.
Oscar Cruz, Churchmen & Politicians, Manila: CBCP Communications Development Foundation, 2010, 130.
Richard Gula, Just Ministry: Professional Ethics for Pastoral Ministers, Mahwah, N.J.: Paulist Press, 2010, 17.
Terry Muck, “Holy Indignation,” Christianity Today (21 October 1988) 14–15.
Downloads
Published
2021-02-28
How to Cite
Aseneta, A. A. R. . (2021). TOWARDS A RESPONSIBLE ENGAGEMENT OF ORDAINED MINISTERS IN SOCIO-POLITICAL ISSUES. Asian Horizons, 15(1), 156–173. Retrieved from https://dvkjournals.in/index.php/ah/article/view/3781
Issue
Section
Articles
