German bishop: Vatican case against lay preaching ‘not entirely consistent’
Bishop Peter Kohlgraf of Mainz says the Vatican’s ban on lay preaching at Mass is not entirely consistent, noting that priests and deacons cannot preach either. The diocese will comply with the ban but acknowledges that lay preaching is already practiced in some parishes and will not discipline those cases. Kohlgraf emphasizes that canon law does not permit laypersons to give the homily, but he is open to other forms of lay proclamation allowed by the Church. He expresses concern that the ban has led to increased denunciations from parishioners, who now report violations directly to Rome or the nuncio.
about 2 months ago
The Diocese of Mainz will continue to follow the Vatican’s prohibition on laypeople delivering the homily at Mass, yet Bishop Peter Kohlgraf says he will not actively discipline parishes where lay preaching occurs, noting that the ban has led to increased reporting of alleged liturgical violations. 1
The Dicastery for Divine Worship, led by Cardinal Arthur Roche, rejected a German bishops’ request to allow commissioned laypersons to preach the homily in exceptional cases, stating that the homily is “intrinsically linked” to the proclamation of the Gospel and reserved for ordained ministers. 1
Bishop Peter Kohlgraf, chair of the German Bishops’ Conference pastoral commission, affirmed that Mainz will obey the Vatican directive that only the priest celebrating the Mass may preach. He added that, although lay preaching has become customary in some parishes, he will neither authorize it nor impose canonical sanctions. 1
Kohlgraf acknowledged that laypeople sometimes deliver homilies despite the ban, but he will not intervene disciplinary‑wise when he learns of such instances. He emphasized that canon law does not permit him to grant permission for lay homilies, even for qualified lay pastoral workers. 1
The bishop expressed worry that the Vatican’s stance is prompting “denunciation,” with individuals reporting perceived liturgical violations directly to him, the diocesan nuncio, or Rome. He said he records these reports and forwards them to the relevant parish leaders without taking punitive action. 1
Kohlgraf suggested using other liturgical avenues permitted by canon law for lay proclamation, noting that the Diocese of Mainz’s liturgical commission has published guidelines outlining these possibilities since the Second Vatican Council. 1
While the bishop would welcome official permission for lay preaching as an enrichment to the Church, he remains bound by current canonical restrictions and will continue to monitor the practice without formal endorsement. 1*
Examine canon law’s stance on lay preaching in Catholic Mass
Lay preaching is strictly limited during the Mass, but it is not absolutely excluded from every Catholic setting. The decisive distinction is between the homily, which is part of the liturgy and reserved to a priest or deacon, and other forms of preaching or instruction, which may sometimes be entrusted to lay faithful outside Mass under specific conditions.
Canon 767 §1 of the 1983 Code of Canon Law states:
“Among the forms of preaching, the homily, which is part of the liturgy itself and is reserved to a priest or deacon, is preeminent.”
Therefore, a lay person may not give the homily during the celebration of the Eucharist. This applies even when the person is a trained catechist, pastoral associate, theologian, religious sister or brother who is not ordained, seminarian, or lay ecclesial minister. The General Instruction of the Roman Missal expresses the rule directly:
The priest celebrant ordinarily gives the homily; he may entrust it to a concelebrating priest or, occasionally, to a deacon, “but never to a lay person.”
The normal order is therefore:
The prohibition is not based on an alleged lack of competence among lay faithful. The 1997 instruction on collaboration in the sacred ministry explicitly says that the exclusion is not based on the preaching ability or theological preparation of lay persons. Rather, the homily is reserved because of the connection between preaching, teaching, sanctifying, and the Sacrament of Holy Orders.
Canon law treats the homily as a liturgical act, not merely as a religious talk delivered in a church. It is an integral part of the Liturgy of the Word and is organically connected with the Liturgy of the Eucharist. The Homiletic Directory describes it as an extension of the proclamation of the biblical readings:
“Through the readings and homily Christ’s Paschal Mystery is proclaimed; through the sacrifice of the Mass it becomes present.”
The homily must explain the mysteries of faith and the Christian life on the basis of the Scripture and prayers of the particular celebration. It should lead the congregation toward the active celebration of the Eucharist.
This liturgical character explains why a lay person’s theological expertise, pastoral experience, or ability to communicate does not authorize that person to replace the homily. The question is not simply, “Who can give an effective talk?” It is, “Who may perform this particular liturgical function?”
The Church’s discipline thus protects the sacramental and ecclesial character of the homily. The Homiletic Directory states that because the homily is so closely united to the table of the Word and the table of the altar, it is to be delivered only by a bishop, priest, or deacon.
Canon 766 provides:
“Lay persons can be permitted to preach in a church or oratory, if necessity requires it in certain circumstances or it seems advantageous in particular cases, according to the prescripts of the conference of bishops and without prejudice to can. 767, §1.”
This canon is sometimes misunderstood as permitting lay persons to preach during Mass. It does not. The final clause—“without prejudice to can. 767, §1”—means that the permission cannot override the reservation of the homily to priests and deacons.
In practical terms, Canon 766 concerns other forms of preaching, normally outside the celebration of Mass. Examples might include:
Such preaching is not an ordinary right of every lay person. It requires the conditions established by universal law and by the applicable norms of the bishops’ conference. The relevant ecclesiastical authority must also grant permission where required.
Redemptionis Sacramentum clarifies the exceptional character of lay preaching:
Lay faithful may be allowed to preach in a church or oratory outside Mass when necessity requires it or usefulness suggests it in particular circumstances. This is especially related to a scarcity of sacred ministers and must not become an ordinary practice.
The same instruction adds that permission belongs to the local Ordinary, normally the diocesan bishop, for individual instances; it does not belong simply to any priest or deacon.
Consequently:
The 1997 instruction further states that the diocesan bishop cannot dispense from the reservation of the homily because the norm concerns the closely connected functions of teaching and sanctifying, not merely a changeable liturgical convenience.
The prohibition concerns preaching the homily, not every form of lay participation in the Liturgy of the Word.
Lay faithful may ordinarily have other liturgical roles according to the approved rites and the pastor’s or rector’s direction, such as:
The 1997 instruction allows certain forms of instruction, personal testimony, or explanation connected with the liturgy when objectively opportune and in harmony with liturgical norms. It immediately cautions that these interventions may not assume the character of the homily.
Thus, a lay person might speak briefly before or after Mass, or at a designated point for a special purpose, but such a speech must not become a substitute for the homily or imitate it in form and function.
A personal testimony, for example, may be appropriate for a mission appeal, stewardship presentation, pro-life witness, vocations event, or a special pastoral occasion. It should not become an extended interpretation of the Sunday readings presented as the Church’s liturgical preaching.
The placement of a speech immediately after the Gospel does not automatically make it lawful. The substance, purpose, and liturgical function must be considered.
A lay intervention is problematic if it:
The Church specifically rejects attempts to evade the law by calling a lay homily something else. The practice of allowing non-ordained persons to give the homily during the Eucharistic celebration has been declared abrogated by Canon 767 §1 and may not become established through custom.
The reservation of the homily does not mean that the homily may simply be omitted and replaced by a lay speaker. Canon 767 §2 requires a homily at all Masses on Sundays and holy days of obligation celebrated with a congregation, except for a grave cause.
The General Instruction likewise says that the homily should be given at such Masses and may not be omitted without a serious reason.
The pastor or rector has the responsibility to ensure that these requirements are conscientiously observed.
If no priest or deacon is available, the solution is not to designate a lay person as the homilist at Mass. Rather, the community may celebrate an authorized non-Eucharistic service, such as a celebration of the Word or another approved form of prayer, in which lay preaching may be possible according to the law.
The restriction on lay homilies should not be interpreted as a denial of the lay apostolate. Lay faithful have an important responsibility to evangelize, catechize, witness, teach, lead prayer, and proclaim the Gospel in the world and in appropriate ecclesial settings.
The United States bishops’ resource on lay ecclesial ministry recognizes that lay ministers should be formed for preaching in places and circumstances where it is permissible under universal law and the relevant complementary legislation. Likewise, the bishops acknowledge that qualified lay persons may be authorized to preach in churches and oratories, while affirming that the Sunday homily remains reserved to the ordained minister.
The distinction is therefore not between “important” and “unimportant” preaching, nor between “educated” and “uneducated” speakers. It is a distinction between:
Under the current Latin Code of Canon Law:
The governing principle is that lay preaching is possible in certain authorized contexts, but the homily during the Eucharistic celebration remains a liturgical function reserved to priests and deacons.