…wandering around the internet, I read this piece at the Seattle Catholic, definitely not everyone’s favorite website, but whatever, about the canonical standing of parish liturgy committees.

In the answer provided by EWTN expert Colin Donovan, he cites the canonical provision for a parish pastoral council and emphasizes its optional nature:

You’ve described the canonical situation quite accurately. Circumstances permitting, the Bishop is to have a pastoral council for the diocese (c.511), and “if he judges it opportune” one in each parish, with a consultative vote only (c.546). In the liturgy Vatican II called for territorial (e.g. USA) and diocesan liturgical commissions, and if useful regional ones (several dioceses together) to assist the bishops (SC 44; c.451).

What I found curious, and perhaps unjustifiably so, was that the implication, at least to me, of Donovan’s answer was to downplay lay role in parish life. However, there is one area in which lay consultation and involvement is mandated by canon law, and perhaps he didn’t mention it because it wasn’t related to the topic at hand. However, I do want to bring it out, because I really wonder how many dioceses and parishes enforce this:

It’s in Canon 537

Can. 537 In each parish there is to be a finance committee to help the parish priest in the administration of the goods of the parish, without prejudice to can. 532. It is ruled by the universal law and by the norms laid down by the diocesan Bishop, and it is comprised of members of the faithful selected according to these norms.

Does your parish have a finance council?