“Bishops, Priests, Religious, and Laity”

Yes, it is. The correct way is “Bishops, Priests, Consecrated Women and Men, and Lay Faithful”, or, “Bishops, Priests, Consecrated Persons, and Lay Faithful”.

By using “consecrated women and men” or “consecrated persons”, all persons with solemn vows are included, not just the Religious. According to Canon Law (Book II, Part II, Section I) there are vowed men and women who are called members of Secular Institutes. The law distinguishes between Institutes of Religious Life and Institutes of Secular Life. Their life is also regulated by the Vatican dicastery or Office called Congregation for the Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life.

Some of them are lay professional people without habit and living “alone in the world” with the exception of the Secular Institutes of Notre Dane de Vie (where I belong), others are clerical institutes of diocesan priests and bishops. Aided by the evangelical counsels of poverty, chastity and obedience they follow Christ in the secular world where secularity and consecration are made possible.

There are also consecrated people who are bishops, priests, brothers, and sisters with solemn vows belonging to Orders and Congregations. They are properly called Religious.

To correct this defect in the propriety of Church practice, the CBCP in their annual meeting in Cebu last year was officially reminded by its Commission on Mutual Relations headed by Archbishop Antonio Ledesma. The matter has been overlooked for a long time by the Commission. Then sometime later a happy get-to-know-you gathering of bishops and members of Secular Institutes was held at the De La Salle University sponsored by the Brothers who are religious. It was a historic first. Thanks for their kindness and generosity.

The issue is a simple question of habit. Like all new social habits, it will take a long time for everyone to comply. We just try to keep on with our courteous reminders.