A Healthy Rivalry: Human Rights and the Church (Louvain Theological and Pastoral Monographs) by Rik Torfs epub fb2 djvu

This book aims to describe human rights in the Church as they already exist today (in the 1983 Code of Canon Law, in everyday practice) and as they can be developed in the future. Human rights in the Church could be promoted by the development of a healthy legal culture and by stimulating independent responsibility among the Christian faithful. By using existing canon law as creatively as possible and by promoting reasonable changes with an eye to the future, the quality of internal church life can be improved without endangering theological foundations. Indeed, good legal structures are a matter of justice.Finally, this book is a plea for constructive dialogue in the Church. The Faithful and the hierarchy are not enemies. They share a common source of inspiration which is not vitiated by their choice of rival philosophical or pastoral options. Indeed, a healthy rivalry between committed Christians can be a real gain for the life of the Church.