TITLE I :
THE OBLIGATIONS AND RIGHTS OF ALL CHRIST'S FAITHFUL (Cann. 208 -
223)
Can.
208 Flowing from their rebirth in Christ, there is a genuine equality of
dignity and action among all of Christ's faithful. Because of this equality
they all contribute, each according to his or her own condition and office, to
the building up of the Body of Christ.
Can.
209 §1 Christ's faithful are bound to preserve their communion with the Church
at all times, even in their external actions.
§2 They are
to carry out with great diligence their responsibilities towards both the
universal Church and the particular Church to which by law they belong.
Can.
210 All Christ's faithful, each according to his or her own condition, must
make a wholehearted effort to lead a holy life, and to promote the growth of
the Church and its continual sanctification.
Can.
211 All Christ's faithful have the obligation and the right to strive so that
the divine message of salvation may more and more reach all people of all times
and all places.
Can.
212 §1 Christ's faithful, conscious of their own responsibility, are bound to
show christian obedience to what the sacred Pastors, who represent Christ,
declare as teachers of the faith and prescribe as rulers of the Church.
§2 Christ's
faithful are at liberty to make known their needs, especially their spiritual
needs, and their wishes to the Pastors of the Church.
§3 They
have the right, indeed at times the duty, in keeping with their knowledge,
competence and position, to manifest to the sacred Pastors their views on
matters which concern the good of the Church. They have the right also to make
their views known to others of Christ's faithful, but in doing so they must
always respect the integrity of faith and morals, show due reverence to the
Pastors and take into account both the common good and the dignity of
individuals.
Can.
213 Christ's faithful have the right to be assisted by their Pastors from the
spiritual riches of the Church, especially by the word of God and the
sacraments.
Can.
214 Christ's faithful have the right to worship God according to the provisions
of their own rite approved by the lawful Pastors of the Church; they also have
the right to follow their own form of spiritual life, provided it is in accord
with Church teaching.
Can.
215 Christ's faithful may freely establish and direct associations which serve
charitable or pious purposes or which foster the christian vocation in the
world, and they may hold meetings to pursue these purposes by common effort.
Can.
216 Since they share the Church's mission, all Christ's faithful have the right
to promote and support apostolic action, by their own initiative, undertaken
according to their state and condition. No initiative, however, can lay claim
to the title 'catholic' without the consent of the competent ecclesiastical
authority.
Can.
217 Since Christ's faithful are called by baptism to lead a life in harmony
with the gospel teaching, they have the right to a christian education, which
genuinely teaches them to strive for the maturity of the human person and at
the same time to know and live the mystery of salvation.
Can.
218 Those who are engaged in fields of sacred study have a just freedom to
research matters in which they are expert and to express themselves prudently
concerning them, with due allegiance to the magisterium of the Church.
Can.
219 All Christ's faithful have the right to immunity from any kind of coercion
in choosing a state in life.
Can.
220 No one may unlawfully harm the good reputation which a person enjoys, or
violate the right of every person to protect his or her privacy.
Can.
221 §1 Christ's faithful may lawfully vindicate and defend the rights they
enjoy in the Church, before the competent ecclesiastical forum in accordance
with the law.
§2 If any
members of Christ's faithful are summoned to trial by the competent authority,
they have the right to be judged according to the provisions of the law, to be
applied with equity.
§3 Christ's
faithful have the right that no canonical penalties be inflicted upon them
except in accordance with the law.
Can.
222 §1 Christ's faithful have the obligation to provide for the needs of the
Church, so that the Church has available to it those things which are necessary
for divine worship, for apostolic and charitable work and for the worthy
support of its ministers.
§2 They are
also obliged to promote social justice and, mindful of the Lord's precept, to
help the poor from their own resources.
Can.
223 §1 In exercising their rights, Christ's faithful, both individually and in
associations, must take account of the common good of the Church, as well as
the rights of others and their own duties to others.
§2
Ecclesiastical authority is entitled to regulate, in view of the common good,
the exercise of rights which are proper to Christ's faithful.
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