Bishops Say Greater Role Should be Given to Lay Congregation

Three of Slovenia's highest ranking Roman Catholic Church dignitaries called for a greater role for the lay congregation in spreading Church values in society at a conference in Maribor on Monday.

Maribor Archbishop and Metropolitan Franc Kramberger, Celje Bishop Anton Stres and Murska Sobota Bishop Marjan Turnsek stressed that the lay congregation has not been given the role it deserves.
Kramberger stressed that members of the clergy cannot realise their mission without the help of the lay congregation. According to Stres, it should therefore be the goal of lay members of the Church to make sure that the word of God is spread in society.
He said at the panel held as part of the 40th annual Nicodemus Evenings - a ten-day event featuring debates on the role of the Church - that there was still a certain reservedness among members of the Roman Catholic Church in propagating their values.
Meanwhile, Kramberger stressed that "the young, the family and the calling of the clergy" remain the main pillars of the Church's pastoral work. Stress also pointed to the importance of charity.
"Christian belief is strongest where there is also a strong presence of a feeling for solidarity," Stres pointed out.
The portrayal of the Church as wealthy, and claims that child abuse was especially widely spread among the clergy was branded by the three dignitaries as a smear campaign.
"The Church has never drawn its strength from poverty or capital, as both would have been ruinous," Kramberger said. He also stressed that the Church never intentionally tried to cover up potential cases of child abuse among its ranks.
Stress meanwhile said that the only true treasure of the Church was its believers' capacity for generosity. He also claimed that pedophelia was no more widespread among the clergy than in other occupations.

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