In the Church and/or in the World. Remarks on the Self-construction of Laypeople in the Czech Catholic Church
In the Church and/or in the World. Remarks on the Self-construction of Laypeople in the Czech Catholic Church

Summary/Abstract: The Second Vatican Council defines the term layperson and it is given the same dignity as clergy and religious. Everyone who is baptised is also made a sharer in the priestly, prophetical, and kingly functions of Christ. The faith of laypeople is not supposed to be secret but public, to be clear and visible in world. They work for the sanctification of the world from within. Active laypeople often do not work only in the world but also inside their parishes to help pastors with pastoral care. How do laypeople live their Christianity in the world and in their parishes? Does their experience correspond to the theology of the Second Vatican Council? This paper describes laypeople according to the Second Vatican Council and the Magisterium’s teaching since then, and it presents the results of the empirical qualitative research among a focus group of several active laypeople of the Diocese of České Budějovice who have completed the Course for Active Laypeople at the Faculty of Theology of the University of South Bohemia.

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