William H. DuBay
Democratic Structures
in the Church Dou the Church's growing awareness
of her divinely estabU.hed ruJlure a/Ww for democratic insti.wtiom which guarantee .the exerci.e oj both authority and individual freedom?
The freedom of the Christian has become a popular topic among Catholic writers today. Seen in both a theological and contemporary aspect, freedom is presented as the choice frnit of God's labor in the world. And yet in spite of this new awareness of the Christian virtue of freedom, we see little sign of its acceptance into the official life of the Church; freedom is not yet guaranteed and made a part of tbe institutional life of tbe Church. This reluctance is based on a dilemma that we must now face: How can the freedoms we enjoy in a democratic society possibly be transferred to the Church with its divinely established hierarchy? The Christian's great freedom in a democratic world he¡ comes a stumhling block in his ecclesiastical life. Engaged in the great variety of activities, interests, and organizations necessary for the strength of a democracy, he finds his responsibilities in the Church are limited merely to carrying out the demands of his immediate superior. This limitation militates against indi-
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