I had not done an update since beginning this post in 2015 because I did not get many responses. What seemed urgent to me fell apparently on deaf ears and others told me my dream was hopeless that the church would never change.

But I am a dreamer and still have the dream for laity power in the church.

I recently read a brief story of the life of St. Jean Vianney of France in the 1800s. He was sent to Ars in France to serve after the French Revolution and Napoleonic war. During the political turmoil the church had been persecuted and went underground. After the war, there were few priests and the churches were abandoned and the buildings damaged or in ruins.

At this time is when St. Jean started his priesthood in Ars. Due to the priest shortage and St. Jean’s own thoughts for the church he did something unheard of at the time. He worked with the lay people and found a way for everybody to serve the church and its mission, even those not currently practicing their faith! I think he could understand my request for laity power in the church today.

How many monarchies are left in the world? Few as countries have moved to some form of democracy. The recent Popes have even praised the move to democracies and yet the church is not one.

I believe the time has come for the Pope to be the chief executive officer of the church. Then his executive branch, legislative branch, and judicial branch should change from all cleric members as it is now to 50% clerics and 50% laity. Or better yet that ten years down the road when all the bugs are worked out of this new government that the laity should have even more member to each branch. After all, all the funding comes from the laity and they should have a say in how it is spent and the priorities of the church.

Please leave your comments here for or against. Tell me if you have an alternative way for the laity to have real power rather than the purely advisory role they have today.

Yesterday was a precedent setting day. The Cardinals elected a non-European. He is from Argentina and has taken the name Pope Francis the First.

He is known to be conservative but takes the side of the poor and lives simply.

We can pray for him to evolve in the job as he experiences the “world” church.

Pope Benedict will voluntarily step down Feb. 28th. A new one will be elected in March by the cardinals.

Who would the new Pope be who can best lead at this time in history? I believe we need one who sees the world wide picture. It is time to elect someone who is not from Europe. The church is shrinking in size there and growing in South America, Asia, and Africa. A pope from one of these areas would have a outlook that would be fresh and move the focus from Europe to the worldwide church.

We pray for God’s will be done in this election. Let us all pray for a servant Pope to us all.  One who works with the laity and sees them as partners in God’s missions and not unruly children that must be chastised into obedience as his number one function.

Let us hear from our readers what they think.  Susan Beary, Iowa

Starting date October 1, 2012. With a goal to bring worldwide support for a Vatican III to address this need to be held in 2015.

Read our mission statement and give us your comments and support. Ask like minded friends and relatives to join us in their parishes all over the USA and the world. The greater the numbers who support the goal the greater the chance it will succeed.