Question 57: For years, we Catholic faithful have knelt during the “Lamb of God”. Now we are told that we are to stand. I find this posture to be disrespectful to Jesus and cannot bring myself to stand when in my heart I believe I should be kneeling. Do I have the right to disobey my bishop when he orders me to do something that goes against my conscience?

Answer: Change is usually difficult, especially when it concerns worship and the Mass. But it is precisely during these tumultuous times that our Faith and Hope in the Church must not fail. During any change there is as much opportunity for growth as there is the threat of public scandal.

Perhaps the question should be: “Do we have the right to disobey our bishop when he is exercising his legitimate authority?”

Section 43 of the General Instruction on the Roman Missal (GIRM) states: “In the dioceses of the United States of America, [the faithful] should kneel beginning after the singing or recitation of the Sanctus until after the Amen of the Eucharistic Prayer, except when prevented on occasion by reasons of health, lack of space, the large number of people present, or some other good reason. Those who do not kneel ought to make a profound bow when the priest genuflects after the consecration. The faithful kneel after the Agnus Dei unless the diocesan bishop determines otherwise”

[Note: Bold type indicates US adaptations. A sentence in the un-adapted  Institutio Generalis Missalis Romani [IGMR], March, 2003, reads: "Where it is the custom that the people remain kneeling from the end of the Sanctus until the end of the Eucharistic Prayer, and before Communion when the priest says Ecce Agnus Dei, this is laudably retained".]

For the sake of observing a uniformity in gestures and posture during the same celebration, the faithful should obey the directions which the deacon or lay minister or the priest give during the celebration, according to whatever is indicated in the Missal.

In this case, Bishop Gerald Barnes has directed that the faithful are to “stand from the beginning of the Our Father to the reception of Holy Communion.” This is entirely within the bishop’s authority and as such, we must be in obedience to his wishes, just as Jesus was in obedience to His Father.

Let me cite a few paragraphs from Vatican II's Christus Dominus (Decree on the Pastoral Office of Bishops in the Church) to give us a bit of context:

2. "The bishops also have been designated by the Holy Spirit to take the place of the apostles as pastors of souls and together with the Supreme Pontiff and subject to his authority, they are commissioned to perpetuate the work of Christ, the eternal Pastor."

3. "United in one college or body for the instruction and direction of the universal Church, the bishops, sharing in the solicitude of all the churches, exercise this their episcopal function, which they have received by virtue of their episcopal consecration in communion with the Supreme Pontiff and subject to his authority."

8 (a). "Bishops, as the successors of the apostles, enjoy as of right in the dioceses assigned to them all ordinary, special and immediate power which is necessary for the exercise of their pastoral office, but always without prejudice to the power which the Roman Pontiff possesses, by virtue of his office, of reserving certain matters to himself or to some other authority."

Canon Law also spells out the submission that Catholics owe to the bishop:

Canon 753. “Although they do not enjoy infallible teaching authority, the bishops in communion with the head and members of the college, whether as individuals or gathered in conferences of bishops or in particular councils, are authentic teachers and instructors of the faith for the faithful entrusted to their care; the faithful must adhere to the authentic teaching of their own bishops with a religious assent of soul.”

Canon Law also describes the responsibility of a bishop to ensure discipline.

Can. 392 §1. “Since the Bishop must defend the unity of the universal Church, he is bound to foster the discipline which is common to the whole Church, and so press for the observance of all ecclesiastical laws.”

§2. “He is to ensure that abuses do not creep into ecclesiastical discipline, especially concerning the ministry of the word, the celebration of the sacraments and sacramentals, the worship of God and the cult of the saints, and the administration of goods.”

Canon Law specifically states that a person who disobeys the rightful authority of his bishop may be subject to punishment.

Can. 137. “The following are to be punished with a just penalty:”

2° “a person who in any other way does not obey the lawful command or prohibition of the Apostolic See or the Ordinary or Superior and, after being warned, persists in disobedience.”

Having therefore established clearly the Bishop's authority, we can now look to a lay Catholic's rights within the Church. The laity has the right to petition the bishop if we disagree with him, but we do not have the right to disobey him when he is exercising his legitimate authority.

Canon 212, § 1. “The Christian faithful, conscious of their own responsibility, are bound by Christian obedience to follow what the sacred pastors, as representatives of Christ, declare as teachers of the faith or determine as leaders of the Church.”

Canon 212, § 2. “The Christian faithful are free to make known their needs, especially spiritual ones, and their desires to the pastors of the Church.”

Canon 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.”

We must submit to the rightful authority of the bishop - even if it is not what we want. We are no holier than the saints who went before us who were treated "roughly" by their superiors - even by Rome.

Two instances come to mind - St. “Padre” Pio and St. Faustina. We must take their example of humility and accept any proper directive that we might receive - and do it with a smile on our faces.

If we want the crown, we must first take the cross because that's how it works. If we are not prepared to do this, then the Lord will lift that cross off our shoulders and give it someone else who will carry it the rest of the way. Crucifixion is for all. Few accept it, and still fewer endure it.

Fundamentally, disobedience to the bishop’s lawful authority is prideful and as such, sinful. Let us embrace these new requirements in obedience. Even though you are standing God knows you are kneeling in your heart.