Who has not seen civil, military and religious authorities, side by side
in their sparkling uniforms, at celebrations of national feasts or on specialdays?
Our modern time is diffident towards any authority. "Our times find
itessential that people are no longer led by authority or trust. It is only
by following their own judgment that they accept to contribute to something."
Hegel, 1830.
We know people who have authority but no power. Others have power but
no real authority.
Sample surveys show the discrepancy between authority and power among
people in politics.
Authority is founded either on competence or on the strength of seduction,
or it is linked to an office.Today, the most underrated type of authority
is the one that is attached to an office. Authoritarianism, which is a caricature
of authority, is disparaged. The word "authority" comes from the
Latin "augere," which means "to make grow" or "to
give abundantly."
Understood that way, authority is analogous to service - at the service
of life and of life together. It provides a space for people's freedom.
In the Gospels, crowds acknowledged Jesus' authority: "No one ever
spoke the way this man does." They were struck by his teaching because
Jesus taught as one who himself had authority and did not rely on the experts
in the law.
In the Catholic Church, the authority attached to an office is called
magisterium (which pertains to the pope and bishops). The Vatican II Council
broke off hierarchical authoritarianism and gave precedence to "the
people of God." The authority of the faithful has a place in the Church
and is practiced as "public opinion" which has always existed
in the Church and which is traditionally called "the sense of faith."
For example, the assumption of Our Lady was celebrated by the people well
before it was declared official dogma byPope Pius XII.
Authority is necessary. One cannot do without it. But it has to be qualified.
Write to Partenia: jgaillot@partenia.org | 
