Rev. Felipe Gomez S.J.

THE LAY-CENTERED CHURCH:
Theology and Spirituality  

by  by Leonard Doohan.
Winston Press Geoffrey Chapman, London, 1984. 

This book is important for those who want to know what the Church is and what lay people are expected to do in it. It offers both theology and spirituality. 

The book explains what "lay people" are in the views of the Catholic Tradition and how modern theology understand their role. The author knows very well the opinions of contemporary theologians. 

Chapter one indicates five current "theologies" about the laity: they are called "Instrument Ministry", "Ecclesial Presence", "World Transformation", "Ecclesial Restructuring" and "Self Discovery". Different "theologies" have different views of the relationships between laity and hierarchy, the sacred and the secular, the Church and the world, etc.. each emphasizes different aspects. The book proposes another theory: "Laity as Integrated Church". Lay people do not belong to the Church, they are the Church. We must understand the Church in a new way. 

Chapter two describes the attitudes towards the laity and the way they are treated in the Church; it focus on the USA, but it is also useful for other readers. The ideas of the Vatican II have not yet changed the administration of the Church. Lay still given permission rather than mission. Little money is dedicated to the formation of lay ministers, and few lay people are full time ministers; the bishops are "too prudent" in using lay help.  

Chapter three develops the theory of the author: the Church is like a family. This way of understanding the Church is easy to understand and attractive for all the baptised, it offers a practical way of living Christianity, where all have a role to play with certain equality and differences.  

Chapter four treats the point of Lay Spirituality. It goes through history and shows the different ways proposed to Christians in order to live their faith. The basic fact is baptism, from which spiritual life flows. But in the past, some philosophies have downgraded the Body and so have seen marital life in negative light; the model of spiritual life was "the monk", so the lay people had not proper way of living their own vocation. Today, Vatican II tells us that all Christians are equally called to holiness because at their baptism and the gifts of the Holy Spirit. All Christians (Lay, Clergy, Religious) must live deeply their faith, each according to his state of the life. We all are called to serve the Church, the world, one another. We must live "incarnated", that is as members of our community, culture, society. We are called to be involved in "politics", that is in whatever can improve common life. We need small group to support us, but we also so need the big Church where we belong. The values of Christian fife are: simplicity, helping others, making peace, sharing our goods and talents, working for justice and brotherhood, etc. 

The book is very useful, but some points can be improved. For example: Lay Ministry in the church is not a career; it implies many sacrifices, that generous Christians must be ready to accept. The idea of the Church as a "Family" is very good, but has to be improved, because some people have bad experiences of their families; moreover, the Hierarchy has to be kept because it comes from Christ. All "model" of the Church are partial or relative: they must be completed by other models.  

Reading, the book, people will understand better the Church and their vocation within it. They will see priests and religious ‑ for example ‑ in a new light. The Church is changing, is progressing, improving its life; this supposes the understanding of each one's role better and the willingness to collaborate in the common task. In the Church many things must be criticized, but most things are very good and must consider and improved. The book offers insights and opens possibilities that any Catholic must consider and see what he or she can do in order to bring the Church to the perfection which Jesus wants for her. 

Felipe Gomez, S.J.
Philippines Jan., 87