Here is an unfortunate incident. Sr Elizabeth receives a phone call from her home with the shocking news that her nephew died in an accident. She had spoken to him that morning, when he greeted her for her birthday. With the desire to see him for the last time, she approaches her superior for permission to go home for the funeral. The permission is denied. In a similar situation in the same community, Sr Josephine, who is an earning physician, is not only given permission to go for the funeral, but the same superior takes initiative in booking a flight for her. The question arises: where is our fundamental equality of dignity?
The Codes of Canon Law speak about the fundamental equality of dignity: “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.” “Based on their rebirth in Christ, there is truly an equality of dignity and activity among all the Christian faithful. In virtue of this dignity, they all cooperate, each according to his or her own condition and function, in the building up of the Body of Christ.” (CIC c. 208; CCEO c. 7)
As we are well aware, different levels of responsibility do exist in religious life—as in any organized life. However, the role or responsibility exercised by an individual religious does not diminish or increase one’s personal dignity. That is to say, no matter what role one plays in religious life, whether of a major superior, or of a local superior, or of those in-charge of a particular apostolate, or of those engaged in the ordinary chores of daily life – including that of a newly professed member, all are equal in dignity.
The equal dignity of every person is to be recognized both for the personal good of the individual member and for the common good of the community. It is also an essential pre-requisite for the well-ordered relationship among the members of a religious community, as well as a sign of universal brotherhood or sisterhood. At the same time, we must remember that the right to equality is not an absolute right. Every individual member has the obligation to respect the other person’s right to equality. No one is to be treated as a ‘second class citizen,’ even if one is physically or mentally disabled because of age, illness or otherwise. Nor should there be any discrimination between the earning and non-earning members within a community.
The equality applies also in the case of fulfilment of the obligations of each individual religious in a community, province or congregation as a whole. Besides sharing in the common mission, all the religious share, too, in community meals, recreation and spiritual exercises, such as, participation in the Holy Eucharist, Holy Communion, liturgy of the hours, spiritual reading, meditation, rosary, sacrament of reconciliation, annual retreat and other community prayers (CIC c. 663; CCEO cc. 473; 538).
While the members are to look upon their superiors as representative of God, the superiors are called to look upon their members with love, compassion, respect, empathy and regard them as human beings and as children of God the Father (CIC cc. 601, 618, 619; CCEO c. 421). Further, each religious is called to take into consideration the needs and legitimate aspirations of the members of the community and to lead a life of love and service. Therefore, communion of love among the members of a community, as well as between superiors and subjects in seeking the will of God on a day-to-day basis, is imperative for any healthy religious community. Only thus the goal of religious life (“the witness of our consecrated life”) is achieved (CIC c. 673).
Sr.Licia SMI
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