New blog on the Lay Apostolate

Daniel Blackman, a layman and theology graduate, has started a blog called Apostolate of the Laity. The blog takes its impetus from the Vatican II Decree on the Lay Apostolate Apostolicam Actuositatem.

I believe that this important teaching has been neglected in favour of a strong, and in some cases exclusive focus on "lay ministry" in the Church associated with the Liturgy. The Lay Apostolate has a relation with the hierarchy, of course, but it is a specifically lay enterprise in which clerics might offer spiritual support but do not appropriately engage in as lay people do. It would be wrong, for example, for a priest to become active in a political party or a trade union; but it is vital that good Catholic laity do become involved in these areas of life. On this subject, it is always worth re-visiting Christifideles Laici.

Congratulations to Daniel on this new blog and I wish it every success.

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