Belgian Catholics issue reform manifesto

Belgian Catholics issue reform manifesto

My comments on their demands:

•Parish leadership be entrusted to trained laypeople;

I would still ordain the lead administrator as a Lay Deacon (no promise of celibacy), but I would entrust the parish council with more responsibility and strip the other clergy of all control of property

•Communion services be held even if no priest is available;

This goes without saying, although the lay deacon could lead it.


•Laypeople be allowed to preach;

See lay deacon above

•Divorced people be allowed to receive Communion;

They should be now - it is only remarriage without an annulment when receiving communion is discouraged - although this should be changed with divorce allowed with remarriage if one spouse either abused the other physically or sexually or was otherwise dangerous (for example, if the person was an addict or alcoholic) or if the partner committed adultery. It should be the wronged person's option to remain within the marriage or let it be dissolved - but the offending party who committed adultery should never be allowed to remarry, nor should the dangerous party unless they are in recovery.

•"As quickly as possible, both married men and women be admitted to the priesthood.

That makes sense too.