Busted Halo . BustedBlog » Features » Lay power in Church governance

recent features Easter says you can put truth in a grave, but it won’t stay there. — Clarence W. Hall Working Women: A new social history says that the women were given the burden for making 20th century marriages work. Whose responsibility is it today? We all suffer for each other, and gain by each other’s suffering; for man never stands alone here, though he will stand alone hereafter; but here he is a social being, and goes forward to his long home as one of a large company. — Cardinal Newman We live and die; Christ died and lived! — John Stott Unplug Tonight! SXSW 2010: Forgiveness on Film and Barbara Smith Conrad busted blog Hello from Syria! What I say to people who tell me I’m motivated by pride to question the Church Why I love First Things Catholics and Republicans on same-sex marriage and public reason Please don’t leave the Catholic Church! So, being 28… On Overthinking (and Susan Boyle) How Heresy Becomes Theology Why talking to certain Catholics is like talking to communists Changes to the Blog More Blog Entries	BustedBlog March 11th, 2009 Lay power in Church governance by Jeff Guhin I mean, actually, I’m pretty supportive of this movement. But I’m pretty sure strongarming through the government is not the way to go at all. Motivated by declining membership, the priest sexual-abuse scandals, parish closings and two cases of financial impropriety at churches in Fairfield County, one of those activists, Tom Gallagher of Greenwich, asked lawmakers to intervene. The bill would have created lay councils of seven to 13 people to oversee the finances of local parishes, relegating Catholic pastors and bishops to an advisory role. It was pulled Tuesday by the co-chairmen of the legislature’s influential judiciary committee amid questions about its constitutionality. Church leaders bristled at government interference, which they and many legal scholars view as unconstitutional. They also firmly rejected the notion that parishioners have no say in the affairs of their church. print email editor comments (1) 1 comment about “Lay power in Church governance” Steve -- March 13th, 2009 at 7:49 pm This is completely uncalled for and obviously unconstitutional. What a complete waste of lawmakers’ time, as well as the inevitable court costs that the good people of CT will have to pay for. post a comment Your Privacy Matters Please note that the editorial staff reserves the right to not post comments it deems to be inappropriate and/or malicious in nature, as well as edit comments for length, clarity and fairness. Name (required) E-Mail (required)	sponsored links interested in this space?