"You Do That!"

It might be more convenient if the Catholic Church was a sort of turnkey operation, where folks get by-the-numbers instructions for everything. We've got some rules that apply across all time and space: actually, they're more like principles, and that's another topic.

My experience is that when someone asks the Vatican to get something done, this is a common response:

"...I asked the Holy Father to pray that we might all be as consecrated to Mary as St. Maximilian was. At first he did not hear me, and, cupping his hand around his ear, said something that sounded to me like 'huh?' Repeating myself a bit louder, I provoked a big smile on the Pope's face. He pointed his finger at me and said 'You do that!'..."
(Father James McCurry)

The Church has a few principles that governments should follow: but doesn't say that one form of government is the 'right' one. Folks living in a territory are supposed to decide whether they want a monarchy, democracy, republic, or something else. (Catechism, 1901)

I see that I'm drifting into subsidiarity, the nature of authority, and several other topics. Time to quit.

Vaguely-related posts:

• "Gratitude, Authority, and Duty"
  (December 2, 2012)
• "More Than 'Just a Cog' "
  (July 9, 2012)
• "Obedience, Yes: Blind Obedience, No"
  (March 12, 2012)
• "Obedience, Yes: Blind Obedience, No"
  (March 12, 2012)